BENEFITS SIDE EFFECTS AND COMPOSITION

WHAT IS COLOSTRUM?
Colostrum is the first collection of a thick creamy
liquid, without blood or infection, produced by the mammary gland of a
parturient mother shortly after birth, usually within the first 6 hours.  
Colostrum is very important part of breast milk and lays down the immune
system and confers growth factors and other protective factors for the young
ones in mammals. This is the source of passive immunity achieved by the
mother and is transferred to the baby. This is the major source of secretory
IgA and gives protection against gastrointestinal infections.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF COLOSTRUM?

Colostrum is known to have benefits such as  passive immunization, benefits
immunodeficient patients. The feasibility of obtaining surface immunoglobulin
suitable for oral use, which may in future be administered to immunodeficient
patients with gastrointestinal manifestations, from human colostrum and milk.
[3]

Human and bovine colostrum have many similarities barring that bovine
colostrum can be obtained in large quantity, so bovine colostrum may be as
beneficial as human colostrum on various disorders in human beings. [2]

Some findings on the benefits of colostrum are summarized as below:

Lactoferrin (LF) exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitice,
and antitumoral activities. It is protective with regard to intestinal epithelium,
promotes bone growth, and accelerates the recovery of immune system
function in immunocompromised animals. Lactoferrin (LF) was tried in the
treatment of hepatitis C infection and the intestinal form of graft-versus-host
disease (GvHD). [5]

A proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) demonstrated a variety of immunotropic
functions, including the promotion of T-cell maturation and inhibition of
autoimmune disorders. PRP, in the form of chewable tablets (Colostrinin) was
recently found to improve or stabilize the health status of Alzheimer's disease
patients. [5]

Casein and casein-derived peptides showed protective activities in
enamel demineralization and as caries-preventing agents. The protein
hydrolyzates were also protective in diabetic animals, reduced tumor growth,
had antihypertensive activity and diminished colicky symptoms in infants.

Glycomacropeptide (GMP), a peptide derived from kappa-casein, exhibited
various antibacterial and antithrombotic activities.

Alpha-lactalbumin (LA) demonstrated antiviral, antitumoral and anti-stress
properties. LA-enriched diets were anxiolytic, lowered blood pressure in rats,
prevented diarrhea, and led to a better weight gain in malnourished children.

HAMLET, a complex of LA and oleic acid, was effective in patients with
cutaneous papillomas. Lysozyme found application in infant formulas, the
treatment of periodentitis, and the prevention of tooth decay. Milk enriched in
lysozyme was used in feeding premature infants suffering from concomitant
diseases. Interesting, antibacterial properties were exhibited by
lactoperoxidase. Both lysozyme and lactoperoxidase required cooperative
action with LF in combating bacteria. [5]

Antioxdants Researchers found that colostrum contains a lot of different
types of anti-oxidants. In the study, colostral concentrations of antioxidant
vitamins E, C, and A were 21.34 +/- 8.47, 148.92 +/- 43.64, 0.79 +/- 0.42
micromol/l, respectively. The antioxidant minerals copper, zinc, and iron
contents were 19.17 +/- 11.73, 63.69 +/- 12.82, 11.44 +/- 1.46 micromol/l,
respectively. Maternal characteristics did not have any influence on the
colostral micronutrients. [7] On the other hand, a study has shown a
correlation between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin intakes during pregnancy (third
trimester) and ORAC values of colostrum and transitional milk (both p < 0.05),
but not with ORAC values of mature milk. Thus, women's dietary habits during
pregnancy and lactation is importnat for the total antioxidant capacity of
breast milk. [10]

Fatty Acids In addition to the antioxidant levels, researchers also found that
geographic differences in maternal dietary composition could  impact the fatty
acid composition of human colostrum.  For example, the contents of
docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and total n-3 long-chain
polyunsaturated fatty acids (0.6, 0.4 and 1.4 wt.%) were higher in Australian
than in European samples. While, Colostrum of Australian women contained a
low polyunsaturated/saturated and n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty
acids ratios (0.28 and 1.58) and a low contents of linoleic and alpha-linolenic
acids (7.8 and 0.4 wt.%). The contents of essential fatty acids, saturates and
polyunsaturates were similar in the southern European countries Spain,
Slovenia and France.  [11]

WHAT HAVE BEEN FOUND ABOUT COLOSTRUM RECENTLY?
The specific IgG from colostral antibodies of immunized bovine can provide
effective protection or therapy for multibacteria-induced diarrhea.
Researchers generated bovine colostral antibodies of cows immunized with a
multivalent vaccine consisting of whole cells of 17 strains of pathogenic
diarrhea bacteria, and they purified the specific IgG with high activities
against these pathogens.

The specific IgG was found to have a strong activity of inhibiting in vitro
growth and colonization in pathogens by agglutinating with bacteria and
destroying cell walls. Normal IgG purified from non-immunized bovine
colostrum is incapable of eliciting the same consequences as specific IgG.
Specific IgG prevents enteroinvasive Escherichia coli/Salmonella
typhi-induced diarrhea and may exert an effective protection by enhancing
splenic NK cell activity, elevating IL-2 level and inhibiting excessive release of
TNF-alpha in mice.  [1]

Iimmunoglobulin (SIg) A prepared from colostrum pool greatly inhibit the
invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli.  Researchers obtained  IgA preparations
from colostrum and milk pools by salt precipitation. They evaluated the final
products in terms of yield and purity, as well as antibody activity to bacterial
antigens and toxins and inhibitory activity of bacterial adhesion to epithelial
cells. They used the colostrum pool with the best yield and purity as a source
of IgA. They found that their IgA preparations preserved the antibody
reactivity against various microbial antigens, well comparable with the
reactivity exhibited by the original milk and colostrum pools. SIgA preparations
were able to inhibit greatly the adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
to Hep-2 cells and the invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli.  [3]

Colostrum contains Ghrelin; research finds.
Ghrelin stimulates appetite by acting on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.
The presence pf Ghrelin in blood stream under fasting conditions may
transmit a hunger signal to the CNS or induces appetite stimulating effect.
.
Ghrelin and its mRNA have been found in numerous human tissues including
breast. A research team compared the ghrelin levels in colostrum, mature
and transitional milk and plasma in lactating women with plasma samples from
non-lactating women. The researchers collected colostrum, transitional and
mature milk samples just before suckling. They found that the ghrelin levels in
colostrum, transitional and mature milk were elavated concomitantly with
increasing plasma ghrelin after delivery. However, the origin of milk ghrelin is
not known, but it probably comes from the plasma. [4]

Colostrum stimulates directly to i-IEL to polarize Th1 type, which may protect
from infectious diseases and allergic diseases mediated by Th2 type
responses. Researchers examined effects of oral administration of bovine
colostrum on local immunity in intestine in adult mice. They supplied bovine
colostrum or control milk orally to C57BL/6 mice for 1, 3 or 6 months. They
then examined the intestinal microflora, fecal IgA, and lymphocyte population
of gut-associated lymphoid tissues and their abilities of cytokine production.

Th1 stimulus for Th2-skewed immune response during infancy is important for
reduction of incidence of allergic diseases.  The researchers found that the T
cells in i-IEL were polarized to Th1 type after oral administration of bovine
colostrum, though the cell populations of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes
(i-IEL) were not remarkably changed.  And, oral administration of bovine
colostrum does not change the Intestinal microflora and IgA levels in feces. [6]

Maternal vaccination with polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
boosts the capacity of colostrum to inhibit adherence of pneumococci to
pharyngeal epithelial cells. In breast-feeding populations, maternal
vaccination might prevent pneumococcal disease in young infants.
Researchers examined Colostrum obtained from Gambian mothers who had
been vaccinated with either Pneumovax II or Mengivax A&C (n=8 per group)
during pregnancy  for inhibition of adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae
serotypes 6B and 14 to pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro. They found that
pneumococcal adherence was significantly reduced in the presence of breast
milk (P< or =.0001 for S. pneumoniae serotype 14; P=.036 for serotype 6B),
independent of the concentration of secretory IgA antibodies. [8]

Bovine colostrum (BC) has been shown to improve athletic performance,
reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, and reduce
intestinal damage and permeability caused by the administration of
non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Research scientists found that
Supplementation with Bovine colostrum (BC) and whey protein during running
training increases intestinal permeability in a study of 31 healthy subjects [9]

Human colostrum is a source of probiotics to infant during breastfeeding.
Researchers analyzed 70 samples of milked human colostrum and they found
 several classical groups of microorganisms: mesophylic (68.6%); thermoduric
(38.6%); psychrotrophic (8.6%); proteolytic (15.7%);
proteolytic-psychrotrophic (1,4%); lipolytic (4.3%); molds and yeasts (11.4%);
Staphylococcus aureus (44.3%); total coliforms (7.2%); and lactic acid
bacteria (37.2%), thus characterizing a diversified microbiota [13]

Colostrinin, a proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) isolated from
bovine colostrum, with immunoregulatory and procognitive properties, has
shown positive benefits in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a
study, researchers treated 33 patients with Colostrinin tablets (containing 100
mg of PRP complex) every other day for three weeks, followed by a 2-week
hiatus to avoid the development of hyporeactivity.  This mode of application,
'3+2 weeks,' was used consistently throughout the 28 months trial.
Researchers found Colostrinin induced slight but statistically significant
improvement or stabilization of the health status of the patients in the trial.
The side effects were emarkably mild, including anxiety, logorrhea, and
insomnia, and subsided spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4
days). [12]


THE SIDE EFFECTS OF COLOSTRUM
Colostrum appears to be safe. But, long term use may induce mild side
effects such as anxiety, logorrhea, and insomnia, and subsided
spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4 days). [12]

THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR
IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHT RESERVED 2005 ZHION INC. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEB-SITES OR
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REFERENCE [1]  Xu LB et al, Bovine immune colostrum against 17 strains of diarrhea bacteria and in vitro and in vivo effects of its specific
IgG.Vaccine. 2005 Nov 15. [2] Thapa BR.Health factors in colostrum.Indian J Pediatr. 2005 Jul;72(7):579-81.[3] Carbonare CB et al, Secretory
immunoglobulin A obtained from pooled human colostrum and milk for oral passive immunization. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2005
Nov;16(7):574-81[4]  Aydin S, Aydin S, Ozkan Y, Kumru S.. Ghrelin is present in human colostrum, transitional and mature milk.Peptides. 2005
Sep 24; .[5] Zimecki M, Artym J.Therapeutic properties of proteins and peptides from colostrum and milkPostepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2005
Jun 30;59:309-23.  [6] Yoshioka Y et al, Oral administration of bovine colostrum stimulates intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes to polarize
Th1-type in mice.Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 Mar;5(3):581-90. [7]  Ahmed L, et al, Antioxidant micronutrient profile (vitamin E, C, A, copper, zinc,
iron) of colostrum: association with maternal characteristics.J Trop Pediatr. 2004 Dec;50(6):357-8. [8] Deubzer HE et al, Colostrum obtained from
women vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine during pregnancy inhibits epithelial adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae.J Infect Dis. 2004 Nov
15;190(10):1758-61. Epub 2004 Oct 7. [9]Buckley JD et al, Bovine colostrum and whey protein supplementation during running training increase
intestinal permeability.Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S81. [10]  Alberti-Fidanza A et al, Total antioxidant capacity of colostrum, and
transitional and mature human milk.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2002 Apr;11(4):275-9. [11] Fidler N et al, The fatty acid composition of human
colostrum.Eur J Nutr. 2000 Feb;39(1):31-7.
[12] Leszek J et  al, Colostrinin proline-rich polypeptide complex from ovine colostrum--a long-term study of its efficacy in Alzheimer's
disease.Med Sci Monit. 2002 Oct;8(10):PI93-6.  [13]  Novak FR et al, Human colostrum: a natural source of probiotics?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2001
Jul-Aug;77(4):265-70.
COLOSTRUM
maintained on April 7, 2009
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