Use IHC to support your immune system, decreasing the risk of catching that winter flu. IHC can also regulate your immune system, with nutrients for damaged tissue and recovery from auto-immune illness.

IHC's nutritional properties are of tremendous value. IHC contains immune factors, growth factors and minor components that are essential elements of the body's defence and regulatory system. Research has shown that colostrum benefits your health. It can:

- support immunity and fight infection
- regulate the immune system to help recovery from autoimmune illness
- nourish wounds, fractures and tissue damage


Support immunity and fight infection
Reports show that colostrum's antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties enable it to kill pathogens where the immune system is weakened. For patients with lowered immune systems, whether caused by stress, cold, therapy or by disease, IHC can help meet the challenge of opportunistic infections.

The immunoglobulins (antibodies) in IHC recognise and attack bacteria, viruses and yeasts. They bind to molecules from the foreign organism and recruit other cells to destroy it. Antibodies also block receptors on body cells and prevent viruses from entering.

Challenged by an infection, we may take antibiotics, which fight infections but also kill beneficial bacteria that aid digestion of food and suppress yeasts. In some cases, one can avoid treatments with such serious side effects by using IHC which provides natural antibodies against bacteria, viruses and yeasts. Components found in IHC, such as transfer factors, train and refresh the immune system to produce antibodies against infection. They replicate the binding protein which is part of a pathogens surface. This is a form of safe, passive vaccination, intended by nature to initialise the immune system of the calf.

Mainstream medical practitioners recommended colostrum as a natural cure before the discovery of penicillin and sulphur drugs. In the 1950s, colostrum was first used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed the polio vaccine, found cow's colostrum contained antibodies against human polio and recommended it as a children's supplement.
 

Regulate the immune system to help recovery from autoimmune illness
As the body goes through physiological changes with age and the ability to resist disease declines, changes affect the organs, muscles, skin, and bones. These processes can be slowed because among its components, IHC has immunoglobulins that neutralise toxins and pathogens in the gut; cytokines, small proteins that affect the behaviour and inflammation response of cells;
transfer factors, that train the immune system; lactoferrin, which neutralises bacteria; and repair factors that aid cellular, muscular and skeletal growth. These components work synergistically and are important for effective immune response and regulation.

Inflammation is part of the immune response. Its regulation and duration are important. When the inflammation is overactive or underactive, then illness will occur. AHC contains components, such as cytokines, responsible for regulating this inflammatory response, and has potential as an anti-inflammatory aid.

Transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) plays an important role in immune system regulation, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Dairy TGF-b1 and TGF-b2 are identical in sequence to the human forms and interact with specific gut cell surface receptors. They stimulate the production of a number of immunoglobulins including IgA and IgG, and therefore play an important role in immune regulation.

Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, Addison's, Crohn's and Raynaud's diseases, fibromyalgia, lupus, alopecia areate, thyroiditis, vasculitis and colitis.

These diseases result when damage is done by an immune system which cannot turn itself off, and are in many cases the result of a leaky gut. Because a leaky gut allows proteins to be absorbed before they have had a chance to be completely broken down, the immune system does not recognise them. It sees these proteins as invaders and starts making antibodies, which in turn can trigger inflammation and attach to healthy body cells. A protein from a food that was previously harmless now triggers a potentially serious allergic response that in turn damages body tissue. Suppressing the immune system is necessary to prevent the immune system from attacking the body itself. Not only is immune modulation an issue, but recovery of a damaged gut wall is also very important. If a person has a leaky gut, then they will not adequately absorb the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that they need to stay healthy. If their body is more capable of absorbing these nutrients, they are in a stronger position to fight disease. One of the factors contained in dairy produce is lactoferrin - an iron binding compound which aids the absorption of iron. Studies also show that other factors assist the recovery of the microvilli (finger-like projections lining the gut walls responsible for nutrient absorption) after damage by infection or prescription drugs or even ibuprofen. The restored gut surface means greater nutrient absorption, means more nutrients for the body to use, means decreased chance of nutrient deficiency. This is where the repair, anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory effects of IHC have great potential.

For example, multiple sclerosis is an auto-immune disease that affects different parts of the nervous system through the destruction of myelin sheaths, the membrane that protects the body's nerves. This destruction produces any number of symptoms, including blurred vision, staggering gait, numbness, dizziness, slurred speech and even paralysis. The results can be devastating.

These types of diseases have been somewhat of a mystery to most healthcare professionals. Most recommended treatments simply provide minor relief of pain and other symptoms. The real issue lies in the discovery of how to stimulate or suppress the immune response.

Dr. Zoltan Rona,  in a report in The American Journal of Natural Medicine, March 1998 states: "PRP from colostrum can work as a regulatory substance of the thymus gland. It has been demonstrated to improve or eliminate symptoms of both allergies and auto-immune diseases (MS, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, myasthenia gravis). PRP inhibits the overproduction of lymphocytes and T-cells and reduces the major symptoms of allergies and autoimmune disease."
 

Diabetes
The body requires IGF-1 to metabolise fat for energy through the Krebs cycle. With aging, less IGF-1 is produced in the body. Inadequate levels are associated with an increased incidence of Type II diabetes and difficulty in losing weight despite a proper nutritional intake and adequate exercise. IGF-1 is the most predominant growth factor present in neovite.

A 1990 study suggested that colostrum supplementation would be a very beneficial treatment for diabetics, based on the fact that a key repair factor, IGF-1, can stimulate glucose utilisation. Researchers found that plasma levels of IGF-1 were lower in diabetic patients than in healthy individuals. After giving IGF-1 to patients, the doctors noticed a two-fold increase in glucose transport to the muscles. "IGF-1 stimulates glucose utilization. IGF-1 found in dairy colostrum (identical to human) can provide an effective acute treatment for Hyperglycemia. IGF-1 can be an effective alternative to insulin in stimulating transport in diabetic muscle. Plasma levels of IGF-1 in diabetic patients is lower than in non-diabetic groups. IGF-1 receptors are present in human muscles. IGF binding is 24% that of insulin. IGF-1 stimulated glucose transport two-fold. Did not stimulate transport in obese subjects." Extract from Dohm Elton, et al. Diabetes, Sept 30, 1990 pp 1028-32: IGF-1 Stimulated Glucose Transport.
 

Heal wounds, fractures and tissue damage
The combination of immune factors and repair factors in neovite are extremely valuable when it comes to repairing damaged tissues. The immune factors help prevent infection and allow the body to get on with the healing process. Each of the repair factors (EGF, TGF, IGF-1) and minerals in IHC help stimulate cell and tissue growth by activating DNA formation. They aid the healing of ulcers, burns, surgery or inflammatory disease. IHC's wound healing properties benefit skin, muscle, cartilage, bone and nerve cells throughout the body reducing pain and swelling and increasing mobility and freedom. IHC can provide a boost of these factors to the body, especially as the ageing process leads to the reduction of hormones and lower levels of repair factors being produced in the body, resulting in osteoporosis and loss of lean muscle.

Repair factors play an important role in controlling new bone growth and can stimulate new bone tissue to counteract osteoporosis. The most prominent factors are those that are produced locally by osteoblasts and are present in the bone. They include IGF, FGF, TGF, and bone morphogenetic proteins. Increases in these factors in the blood can trigger the healing process in bone fractures, which may be slow or even absent in older people. 

Growth factors and bone health
Growth factors play important roles in the control of osteoblast (bone deposition) function through complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. The most prominent factors are those that are produced locally by osteoblasts and are present in the bone matrix. They include IGFs, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), TGF- s, and bone morphogenetic proteins. Some of the signaling mechanisms of these factors have been identified in osteoblastic cells.

Insulin-like growth factors
IGFs are produced by osteoblasts and act through their receptors to activate both proliferation and differentiation. In vivo, IGF-I stimulates bone formation by acting on osteoblast recruitment and function. In vitro, IGF-I increases collagen type expression and synthesis and promotes osteoblast survival. The actions of IGFs are largely controlled by IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) which are produced by osteoblasts and present in the bone matrix, and are regulated by local agents and specific proteases. Both IGFs and IGFBPs are controlled by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, oestrogens, and PTH, suggesting that these factors are important local regulators of bone formation.

Transforming growth factor
TGF- is produced in latent forms by osteoblasts. Latent TGF- is stored in the bone matrix in association with latent TGF- binding protein (LTBP) and the latent complex can be released into mature biologically active TGF- by the action of plasmin and low pH produced by osteoclast during resorption. The biological activity of TGF- can also be controlled by interactions with the small proteoglycans decorin and beta glycan. In vivo, TGF- markedly stimulates bone formation in rats. In vitro, TGF- increases the proliferation of normal osteoblastic cells and stimulates the expression and production of bone matrix proteins such as type I collagen and osteopontin. In addition, TGF- reduces the rate of matrix degradation by acting on collagenase and metalloprotease enzymatic activities. TGF- also exerts anti-apoptotic effects on osteoblasts, which could complement its anabolic effects on bone formation. Since TGF- released from the matrix during resorption may stimulate osteoblast recruitment, this factor may serve as a coupling agent linking resorption to the subsequent formation during the bone remodeling cycle. TGF- has an inhibitory effect on bone resorption. The local injection of TGF-to ovariectomized rats reduces bone hyperresorption. In mice marrow cultures, TGF- decreases osteoclastic differentiation through a direct action on hematopoietic precursor cell proliferation. Another mechanism inducing the inhibition of osteo-clast differentiation could be to reduce RANK-L and to increase OPG expression by stromal/osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, TGF- increases osteoclast apoptosis. The synthesis of TGF- by osteoblasts is increased by estradiol and it could be one of the mediators of the inhibitory effect of estradiol on bone resorption.

Fibroblast growth factors
FGFs are essential molecules for the regulation of bone formation. The biological activity of FGFs depend on binding to and activation of high affinity FGF receptors (FGFRs). FGFR mutations engender multiple abnormalities in skeletal development, which emphasizes the importance of FGFR signaling in the control of skeletal formation. In the postnatal life, FGFs have important direct and indirect effects on the recruitment, differentiation, and survival of osteoblasts. In vivo, low dose FGF-2 stimulates endosteal bone formation in normal and osteopenic animals. In vitro, FGF-1 and FGF-2 stimulate osteoblastic cell proliferation, inhibit ALP and type 1 collagen expression, and modulates osteocalcin expression, whereas FGF-2 treatment increases osteocalcin synthesis and matrix mineralisation in marrow stromal cells or human calvaria cells in long-term cultures, showing that FGF-2 effects are dependent upon the stage of osteoblast maturation. Part of the anabolic effects of FGFs may be mediated by stimulation of TGF- , IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBPs. Additionally, FGF-2 promotes osteoblast survival. This factor is therefore likely to be important in the local control of bone formation

Some of the research published in this field:

Askaa J, Bloch B, Bertelsen G, Rasmussen KO. Nord Vet Med. 1983 Dec;35(12):441-7. Related Articles, Links, Rotavirus associated diarrhoea in nursing piglets and detection of antibody against rotavirus in colostrum, milk and serum.

Brussow, H, Hilpert, H, Walther, I, Sidoti, J, Mietens, C, Bachmann, P. Bovine milk immunoglobulins for passive immunity to infantile rotavirus gastroenteritis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 25(6):982-986 (1987).

Boesman-Finkelstein M, Finkelstein RA. Lancet. 1989 Dec 2;2(8675):1336. Related Articles, Links, Comment on: Lancet. 1989 Sep 23;2(8665):709-12. Passive oral immunisation of children.

Davidson, G.P.; E.; Nunan, H.; Moore, A..G.; Whyte, P.B.D.; Franklin, K.; McCloud, P.L.; Moore, D.J. Passive Immunization of children with bovine colostrum containing antibodies to human rotavirus. Lancet. 2:709-712, 1989.

Ebina, T, Sato, A, Umezu, K, Ishida, N, Ohyama, S, Ohizumi, A, Aikawa, K, Katagiri, S, Katsushima, N, Imai, A. Prevention of rotavirus infection by cow colostrum antibody against human rotaviruses. Lancet 2(8357):1029-1030 (1983).

Ebina, T, Ohta, M, Kanamaru, Y, Yamamoto-Osumi, Y, Baba, K. Passive immunizations of suckling mice and infants with bovine colostrum containing antibodies to human rotavirus. Journal of Medical Virology 38(2):117-123 (1992).

Ebina, T. Prophylaxis of rotavirus gastroenteritis using immunoglobulin. Archives of Virology Supplement 12:217-223 (1996).

Hasegawa, K., et, al. Inhibition with lactoferrin of in vitro infection with human herpes virus. Japanese Journal of Medical Science and Biology. 47(2):73-85, Apr 1994.

Hilpert, H, Brussow, H, Mietens, C, Sidoti, J, Lerner, L, Werchau, H. Use of bovine milk concentrate containing antibody to rotavirus to treat rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants. Journal of Infectious Disease 156(1):58-166 (1987).

Immunoglobulin components and anti-viral activities in bovine colostrum. Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 1990 Mar;64(3):274-9.

Mitra AK, Mahalanabis D, Ashraf H, Unicomb L, Eeckels R, Tzipori S. Acta Paediatr. 1995 Sep;84(9):996-1001. Related Articles, Links, Hyperimmune cow colostrum reduces diarrhoea due to rotavirus: a double-blind, controlled clinical trial. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka Bangladesh.

Orzechowska, B., et al. “Antiviral effect of proline-rich polypeptide in murine resident peritoneal cells.” Acta Virol; 1998;42(2):75-78.

Orzechowska, B, Janusz, M, Domaraczenko, B, Blach-Olszewska, Z. Antiviral effect of proline-rich polypeptide in murine resident peritoneal cells. Acta Virologica 42(2):75-78 (1998).

Palmer,E.L. et al. Antiviral Activity of Colostrum and Serum Immunoglobulins A and G. J. Med. Virol. 5:123-129. 1980.

Petschow, BW, Talbott, RD. Reduction in virus-neutralizing activity of a bovine colostrum immunoglobulin concentrate by gastric acid and digestive enzymes. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 19(2):228-235 (1994).

Rump JA, Arndt R, Arnold A, Bendick C, Dichtelmuller H, Franke M, Helm EB, Jager H, Kampmann B, Kolb P, et al. Treatment of diarrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum. Clin Investig. 1992 Jul;70(7):588-94.

Qiu, J, Hendrixson, DR, Baker, EN, Murphy,TF, St. Geme, JW, III, Plaut, AG. Human milk lactoferrin inactivates two putative colonization factors expressed by Haemophilus influenzae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA) 95(21):12641-12646 (1998).

Shortridge, KF, Lawton, JW, Choi, EK. Protective potential of colostrum and early milk against prospective influenza viruses. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 36(2):94-95 (1990).

Sarker, SA, Casswall, TH, Mahalanabis, D, Alam, NH, Albert, MJ, Brussow, H, Fuchs, GJ, Hammerstrom, L. Successful treatment of rotavirus diarrhea in children with immunoglobulin from immunized bovine colostrum. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 17(12):1149-1152 (1998).

Sarker SA, Casswall TH, Mahalanabis D, Alam NH, Albert MJ, Brussow H, Fuchs GJ, Hammerstrom L.Successful treatment of rotavirus diarrhea in children with immunoglobulin from immunized bovine colostrum. Pediatr Infect Dis J.1998 Dec;17(12):1149-54.

Sabin, A and Fieldsteel, A.H. Antipoliomyelitic activity of human and bovine colostrum and milk. Pediatrics, Jan. 1962. pp.105 - 115.

Sabin, AB. Antipoliomyelitic substance in milk from human beings and certain cows. Journal of Diseases of Children 80:866-870 (1950).

Tzipori, S, Roberton, D, Chapman, C. Remission of diarrhoea due to cryptosporidiosis in an immunodeficient child treated with hyperimmune bovine colostrum. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Edition) 293(6557):1276-1277 (1986).

Tzipori S, Roberton D, Chapman C. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1986 Nov 15;293(6557):1276-7. Related Articles, Links, Remission of diarrhoea due to cryptosporidiosis in an immunodeficient child treated with hyperimmune bovine colostrum.

Ylitalo S, Uhari M, Rasi S, Pudas J, Leppaluoto J. (1998) Rotaviral antibodies in the treatment of acute rotaviral gastroenteritis. Acta Paediatr. 87:264-267.

Yolken RH, Losonsky GA, Vonderfecht S, Leister F, Wee SB. (1985) Antibody to human rotavirus in cow's milk. New England Journal of Medicine. 312:605-610.
Yolken, RH, et al. Antibody to human rotavirus in cow's milk. New England Journal of
Medicine 312(10):605-610 (1985). Raw and pasteurized milk contain antibodies against rotavirus, an important cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants. However, infant formulas and other sterile milk preparations had little or no anti-rotaviral activity.