Colostrum has received widespread attention as a dietary supplement since the 1990s, when it became commercially available. But for thousands of years across many cultures, colostrum and first milk have been prized sources of nourishment.
Ayurvedic physicians in India have used colostrum for countless generations. It is highly valued by the Maasai herdsmen in Kenya, and its use is widespread in Finland and Scandinavia. Elite athletes around the world take colostrum to help their recovery. In the United States, mainstream medical practitioners recommended colostrum as a natural cure before the discovery of penicillin and sulfa drugs. In the 1950s, colostrum was first used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed the polio vaccine, found cows colostrum then contained antibodies against human polio and recommended it as a children's supplement. 300 ton of colostrum is now sold in the USA each year.
For many years, health care practitioners have been hearing a great deal about bovine colostrum, a dietary supplement intended to optimize 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. This web site is intended to provide reliable information about colostrum, its attributes and the research conducted about them. The past 20 years has also witnessed the publication of over 2000 research papers strongly supportive of both colostrum and its numerous components.
While some of it is summarized on this section of the website, a long list of articles are provided on the educational website www.colostrumcenter.orgSOURCE OF COLOSTRUM
Immuron's Hyper Immunized Colostrum is manufactured from colostrum of dairy cows collected at Australian Government registered Dairy Farms. These Farms are used for production of milk for human consumption and have to comply with all relevant Government Health Regulations.
HEALTH STATUS OF ANIMALS
The dairy cows are maintained under Veterinary supervision and certified healthy. Australia is declared free of major animal diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB), Brucellosis and Rabies.
APPEARANCE
Freeze-dried colostrum is milled to a uniform size and blended into production batches. The resulting powder is free flowing and pale gold in colour.
TYPICAL COMPOSITION
Protein 88.6 %
Lactose 2.9 %
Moisture 0.6 %
Milk Fat 3.5 %
Ash % @550 °C 4.3 %
IMMUNOGLOBULIN CONTENT
Total Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM (w/w) 36 %
Total Immunoglobulin content is guaranteed at > 30% level, other components could
vary slightly from batch to batch.
TYPICAL IMMUNOGLOBULIN PROFILE
IgG 84.5 %
IgA 8.6 %
IgM 6.8 %
MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTS
Standard Plate Count / gm <10,000
Yeast / gm < 100
Mould / gm < 100
Coliform count in 1 gm Not detected
Salmonella sp. in 25 gm Not Detected
Listeria in 25 gm Not Detected
Antibiotic residues (Penicillin) < 0.003 μg / ml
EXPIRY DATE
IHC is a freeze-dried powder with low moisture and fat content. Because of low moisture and fat content this product is resistant to spoilage and
rancidity. Shelf life at room temperature is three years from the date of manufacture.
Colostrum does have antimicrobial properties. This is mostly because it
contains IgG (immunogloblulin G), a common antibody (or immune protein)
that fights viral and bacterial infections. Studies have shown that
breast-fed babies are less prone to such infections, most likely due to
the IgG in the colostrum passed on to them from their mothers. Other
antibodies are also found in the colostrum but it's the IgG type that
seems to be most important for supplying a new-born with a passive form
of immunity until his own immune system has a chance to develop.
Immunoglobulin G from bovine colostrum, which chemically resembles the
human variety, has been shown to help fight intestinal viral and
bacterial infections, especially in immune deficient patients (e.g.
people with AIDS, premature babies, those undergoing organ
transplants). These patients have lost a lot of their immune factors
which can be replenished through colostrum supplements, at least as far
as the gut goes. The IgG antibodies can afford protection against
rotavirus and E. coli as well as other viruses and bacteria that can
infect the intestine.
In addition to immunoglobulins, colostrum
also contains lactoferrin (an iron binding protein that prevents
harmful bacteria from getting the iron they need to grow) and cytokines
(intermediate immune system messengers). These factors tend to keep
infections at bay before they become serious. This especially applies
to gut infections (where colostrum seems to have a great deal of
effect). Colostrum can even increase uptake of nutrients in the gut
which in turn prompts more muscle and other tissue development.
Colostrum also contains glycoproteins and protease inhibitors that can
protect the important immune factors from digestion by our gut's
enzymes. These protease inhibitors were also recently found to help
prevent the attachment of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, responsible
for stomach ulcers, to the gut.
Some researchers report that
blood levels of IGF-1 (Insulin-like growth factor-1), which is involved
in growth and development, can be increased by colostrum. Mention
growth and development and people immediately think of human growth
hormone which has garnered a lot of publicity recently. But the fact is
that growth hormone actually carries out its work through IGF-1. After
growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary, it triggers the production
of IGF-1, which in turn stimulates growth. The levels of both these
substances decrease as we age, so in theory an intervention to increase
levels should be welcome.
Athletes will be happy to hear that
colostrum also contains a growth factor called FGF (fibroblast growth
factor). This stimulates growth of fibroblasts, the body's first line
of defense in muscle and tendon injury. FGF also increases the number
of IGF-1 receptors on the surface of muscle cells meaning that IGF-1
can have more effect on the muscle cells. They divide faster which in
turn leads to more muscle mass.
Proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) is
also found in colostrum. This factor's effects are a bit harder to
understand - it has been said to both suppress an overactive immune
system (good in the case of patients with autoimmune diseases) and also
stimulate underactive immune systems.
Another example of the benefits of colostrum comes from its use in the
treatment of diarrhea associated with AIDS and autoimmune diseases. The
growth factors in the colostrum seem to be able to seal off the gut so
bacterial toxins don't take effect, while still allowing for the
absorption of certain amino acids and carbohydrates. Children plagued
by a specific strain of E. coli also seem to be helped by colostrum.
In the case of
wound healing, there's no direct evidence that topical application of
powdered colostrum can heal wounds, but there are many testimonial
claims to this effect. Perhaps the growth factors present, especially
the IGF-1, TGF-beta and EGF, help to regenerate tissue cells.
For
arthritis sufferers, colostrum, though not necessarily helpful in
combating the arthritis itself, might prevent those annoying stomach
pains that come with taking certain arthritis medications, most
commonly the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It seems
again the growth factors in the colostrum keep down swelling in the gut
and stomach. T
Colostrum components
Colostrum has two groups of components: immune system factors and growth factors. The key elements in these groups are:
Immunoglobulins(A, D, E, G and M)
the most abundant of the immune factors found in colostrum; IgG neutralises toxins and microbes in the lymph and circulatory system; IgM destroys bacteria while IgE and IgD are highly antiviral.
Lactoferrin
an antiviral, anti-bacterial, iron-binding protein with therapeutic effects in HIV, Cytomegalovirus, herpes, Chronic fatigue Syndrome, Candida albicans and other infections. Lactoferrin helps deprive pathogens of the iron they require to reproduce and releases iron into the red blood cells enhancing oxygenation of tissues. Lactoferrin also modulates cytokine release and receptors have been found on blood cells such lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and platelets.
Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs)
these are hormones or hormone-like substances that appear to help regulate some functions of the thymus gland. They appear to stimulate an underactive immune system or inhibit an overactive immune system in autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chronic fatigue syndrome and some allergies and hyperreactive conditions such as asthma, urticaria and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Growth Factors
Epithelial growth factor (EGF)
Insulin-like growth factor-I and II (IGF-1 and IGF-II)
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
Transforming growth factors A & B (TGF-A and B)
Growth hormone (GH)
These all help stimulate cell and tissue growth by stimulating DNA formation. Genetically engineered versions of IGF-1 and GH are now marketed as longevity and AIDS drugs. They are found naturally and in high concentrations in colostrum.
Several studies show that these growth factors are capable of increasing T-cell production, accelerate healing, balance blood glucose, reduce insulin need, increase muscle and bone growth and repair while metabolising fat for fuel. Studies have also shown that dairy colostrum can increase the serum levels of IGF-1 in male athletes. As it has been shown that IGF-1 in colostrum is only absorbed into the blood stream in fragmented segments, it is likely that this increase in serum IGF-1 levels occurs via the combination of training, conditioning of the digestive tract and possible enhanced stimulation of human IGF-1 synthesis via the intestinal mucosa.
Leukocytes
stimulate the production of interferon which slows viral reproduction and penetration of cell walls.
Enzymes
lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate, peroxidase and xanthine oxidase destroy bacteria by releasing of hydrogen peroxide.
Lysozyme
a hydrolysing agent and immune system booster capable of destroying bacteria and viruses on contact. This compound destroys the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls leading to the death of such organisms (both gram positive and gram negative organisms are affected).
Cytokines
interleukins that regulate the duration and intensity of the immune response, are responsible for cell to cell communication, boost T-cell activity and the production of immunoglobulins. Interleukin-10 is strongly anti-inflammatory, especially in connective tissue disorders such as arthritis.
Trypsin and Protease Inhibitors
prevent the destruction of immune and growth factors in colostrum from being broken down in the GI tract; they also prevent Helicobacter pylori from attaching to the walls of the stomach and can have a beneficial role in the treatment of peptic ulcers.
Lymphokines
hormone-like peptides produced by activated lymphocytes that mediate the immune response.
Oligo-polysaccharides and Glycoconjugates
attract and bind to major enteric pathogens such as Strep., E. coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidia, Giardia, Entamoeba, Shigella, Clostridium difficile Toxins A & B and Cholera preventing them from attaching or entering the mucous membranes.
Orotic Acid
stops the formation of pyrimidine nucleotides and prevents haemolytic anemia.
Other Immune Factors
some of the documented immune factors include secretory IgA, IgA Specific Helper, B Lactoglobulin, Lactalbumin, Albumin, Prealbumin, Alpha 1-Antitripsin, Alpha 1-Fetoprotein, Alpha 2-macroglobulin, Alpha 2-AP Glycoprotein, C3, C4 and Orosomucoids.