Bovine colostrum may strengthen your immune system and help your body fight disease-causing agents.
The immune-boosting effects of colostrum are mostly due to its high concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG. Antibodies are proteins that fight viruses and bacteria (
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Research shows that colostrum supplements may be particularly effective in boosting immunity in elite athletes.
One 12-week study in 35 adult distance
runnersfound that taking a daily bovine colostrum supplement increased the amount of saliva IgA antibodies by 79%, compared to baseline levels (
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The researchers suggested that higher saliva levels of IgA may strengthen immunity and enhance the body’s ability to fight upper respiratory tract infections (
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Another study in 29 male cyclists observed that taking 10 grams of bovine colostrum a day for 5 weeks prevented a postexercise decrease in immune cells and reduced the risk of upper respiratory infection symptoms compared to a placebo (
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Other studies have similarly linked bovine colostrum supplements with enhanced immune response, but more extensive research is needed (
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May Prevent and Treat Diarrhea
The compounds in bovine colostrum — especially the variety of antibodies and the
proteinlactoferrin — may help prevent diarrhea associated with bacterial and viral infections (
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A study in 87 adults experiencing diarrhea associated with HIV found that taking 100 grams of bovine colostrum a day along with traditional anti-diarrheal medications significantly decreased stool frequency by 21% more than traditional medications alone (
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What’s more, cows can be given immunizations against specific strains of bacteria to produce colostrum high in antibodies that can fight specific infections (
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These types of bovine colostrum are considered hyperimmune and could be an effective way to treat certain infections in humans, such as those caused by
Escherichia coli (
E. coli) and
Shigella dysenteriae bacteria (
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For example, studies show that hyperimmune colostrum may prevent a type of diarrhea known as traveler’s diarrhea, which is typically caused by
E. coli bacteria.
One study in 30 healthy adults found that those who took a daily dose of 1,200 mg of hyperimmune bovine colostrum containing antibodies that fight
E. coli bacteria were 90% less likely to develop traveler’s diarrhea than those taking a placebo (
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May Benefit Gut Health
Bovine colostrum may
strengthen your gut and fight infections in the digestive tract.
Both animal and human studies show that bovine colostrum may stimulate the growth of intestinal cells, strengthen the gut wall, and prevent intestinal permeability, a condition that causes particles from your gut to leak to the rest of your body (
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These beneficial effects are likely due to the lactoferrin and growth factors it contains (
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One study in 12 athletes who were susceptible to
intestinal permeability due to heavy exercise found that taking 20 grams of bovine colostrum a day prevented 80% of the increase in intestinal permeability experienced by those who took a placebo (
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Another study observed that colostrum enemas may be helpful in treating colitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the inner lining of the colon.
A study in 14 adults with colitis who were taking traditional medications found that taking bovine colostrum enemas in addition to regular medications reduced symptoms more than medication alone (
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The potential for bovine colostrum to reduce symptoms of colitis is supported by animal studies. However, more extensive research in humans is needed (
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SUMMARY
Both human and animal studies suggest that bovine colostrum may enhance immunity, fight infections, and benefit gut health. However, more research is needed to better understand the effects of this supplement on human health.