How Does Bovine Colostrum Boost Immunity?

For living a healthy life, a strong immune system is not just an option anymore. It is rather your answer to multiple health problems that can be avoided with a stronger defense system that fights bacteria for you. Scientists are exploring different options to strengthen our bodily defenses, and natural supplements like bovine colostrum have become a popular choice.

However, is it the key to healthy living with improved immunity? Can colostrum supplements truly improve your gut health, support muscle strength, and combat those foreign pathogens for you? Let’s find out!

Known as nature’s first food, bovine colostrum is found in the milk produced by cows during the first 24-48 hours after giving birth. Rich in antibodies and vital nutrients, it’s an essential requirement for baby calves to adjust to the outside world. It helps the baby build the immunological defenses needed to fight viral infections and diseases while also supporting its early growth and development.

Now, how is this immunity booster beneficial to human beings when it is intended for calves? 

Before addressing the concern, you must know that all female mammals, including humans, produce colostrum after giving birth. It helps their newborns by:

• Promoting healthier inflammation responses towards injuries, infections, and other foreign pathogens.
• Providing the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for their growth.
• Building a healthy gut microbiome to improve their overall health.

Despite its nutritional properties, human colostrum is mainly intended for babies due to its low production quantity in mothers. On the other hand, cow colostrum is more easily accessible and often used as a supplement for humans. It can help adults overcome their immunity issues and promote better gut health.

Studies show that immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin in human colostrum. On the other hand, bovine colostrum has higher concentrations of different types of immunoglobulins, including immunoglobulin G (IgG), A (IgA), E (IgE), D (IgD) and M (IgM). Even though we still need more research, studies suggest that cow colostrum has up to 40 times more antibodies than human colostrum.

Studies have also shown that the overall composition of both colostrums is quite similar. Combined with a high concentration of nutrients and an almost identical composition, colostrum supplements sourced from cows have become popular among humans.

To better understand the properties of this natural immunity booster, here is a quick look at its composition. 

• Lactoferrin: This is a bioactive protein with antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents bacterial growth in the human body.
• Immunoglobulins: Bovine colostrum is rich in IgG, which is known to boost natural immunity. It also contains higher concentrations of IgA and IgM than human colostrum, thus offering a more comprehensive alternative for antibodies.
• Vitamins/Minerals: Bovine colostrum contains much higher concentrations of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K than mature milk. It is also a rich source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium.
• Growth factors: The Transforming Growth Factors (TGF) and Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF) in cow colostrum support muscle health and recovery. It can be a suitable choice for athletes and anyone else facing muscle mass loss due to age or other factors.
• Oligosaccharides: There are 19 different types of oligosaccharides present in cow colostrum. They are known for combating the bacteria in your gut and maintaining a healthy GI microbiome. 

• Infants: While human babies can survive without colostrum, not getting it upon birth can increase the risks of leaky gut in their adulthood. Supplementing them with cow colostrum can promote a healthy gut microbiome and keep their gut lining intact.
• Athletes: Intensive physical training increases the risks of upper respiratory tract infections in professional athletes. Colostrum supplements can boost their immunity to fight infection-causing bacteria and support their muscle development and recovery.

While all mammals produce colostrum, the supplements for humans are sourced from cows. Depending on availability, you can opt for pills, tablets, drinks, or powder forms of bovine colostrum supplements.