THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF COLOSTRUM
Medical research and the reports of consumers indicate that colostrum has the following health benefits. This list is not meant to be conclusive. Colostrum was designed by nature to promote good health, and its benefits are many and exceed those listed below:
- Promotes a sense of wellbeing
- Enhances sexual function
- Eliminates allergy symptoms
- Increases endurance
- Improves immunity
- Improves prostate health
- Destroys bacteria, viruses & fungi
- Builds lean muscle and burns fat
- Promotes healthy hair
- Reduces enlarged prostate
- Speeds healing
- Sharpens mental focus
- Improves athletic performance
According to research publication or empirical observation, colostrum has been used to successfully treat the symptoms of the following disorders: anaemia, arthritis, asthma, bursitis, colitis, chronic fatigue, chronic pain depression, diabetes, diverticulitis, emphysema, fibro myalgia, gout, gingivitis, haemorrhoids, influenza, lupus, joint injuries and post surgery pain, multiple sclerosis, nerve injuries, nocturia, PMS, shingles, stress, stroke, temper outbursts, tendonitis, thyroid disorders, ulcers and more. In the past two years, health care practitioners have been hearing a great deal about bovine colostrum, a relatively new food supplement intended to optimise the immune systems of both healthy and chronically ill individuals. Much of the excitement about colostrum has been generated by testimonials, anecdotal reports, as well as the marketing efforts of several new supplement manufacturers and distributors.
The past 20 years has also witnessed the publication of over 2000 research papers strongly supportive of both colostrum and it’s numerous components. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the scientific evidence for the clinical application of the promising immune system modulator.
In colostrum, Life’s First Food (33), Dr Daniel G Clark’s basic message, as printed on the back cover of his book, is that “bovine colostrum rebuilds the immune system, destroys viruses, bacteria (17,18) and fungi, accelerates healing of all body tissue, helps lose weight, burn fat, increase bone and lean muscle mass and slows down and even reverses aging”. According to Clark and the well known naturopathic physician, Dr Bernard Jensen (34), colostrum has a therapeutic role to play in AIDS, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, auto immune diseases, allergies, herpes (38), bacterial (15), viral and parasitic (1), infections, gingivitis, colds, the flu and much more. Colostrum has antioxidant properties, is anti-inflammatory and is a source of many vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids.
Colostrum Rediscovered Historically, Ayurvedic physicians have used divine colostrum therapeutically in India for thousands of years. In the US and throughout the world, conventional doctors used it for antibiotic purposes prior to the introduction of sulphur drugs and penicillin. In the early 1950’s colostrum was prescribed extensively for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In 1950 Dr Albert Sabin (12,26), the polio vaccine developer discovered that colostrum contained antibodies against polio and recommended for children susceptible to catching polio.
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first mammary secretion that a mammal provides for it’s newborn for the first 24-48 hrs. It contains numerous immune system and growth factors as well as essential nutrients, trypsin, protease inhibitors that protect it from destruction in the GI tract. It is estimated that colostrum triggers at least 50 processes in the newborn. Bovine colostrum is biologically transferable to all mammals, including man and is much higher in immune factors than human mother’s colostrum. Laboratory analysis of immune and growth factors from bovine colostrum are identical to those found in human colostrum except for the fact that the levels of these factors are significantly higher in the bovine version. For example human colostrum contains 2% of IgG while cow colostrum contains 86% of IgG, the most important of the immune-globulins found in the body. Bovine colostrum contains a blocking hormone to prevent the calf from becoming sensitised to it’s own mother’s immune factors. Studies indicate that all species, including man, benefit from the immune boosting properties of bovine colostrum with no reports of allergic or anaphylactic reactions to date. It is a very limited supply because colostrum is only available for a day or two after calving. The needs of the newborn calf must be met first and only high quality colostrum is taken from cows that have been certified free of antibiotic, pesticides and synthetic hormones. Colostrum must be processed at low temperatures so that the immune and growth factors remain biologically viable.
Major Colostrum Components
Most important components of colostrum can basically be broken down to two major categories: immune system and growth factors. Drug manufacturers have tried to copy (genetically engineer) and market several of the individual components of colostrum, most notably infection, gamma globulin (7), growth hormone, IgF-1 and protease inhibitors. Biotechnology companies are currently selling IgF-1 for as much as $800 per 50cc vial. Some of the following colostrum components may very well be next on the list of major breakthroughs by the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industry: Immunoglobulins (A,D,E,G&M) – the most abundant of the immune factors found in colostrum: IgG neutralizes toxins and microbes in the lymph and circulatory system: IgM destroys bacteria while IgE and IgD are highly antiviral (4,23,25).
Available in 1kg & 4kg tubs.
Information for educational purposes only
