Bovine Colostrum Supplementation During Running Training Increases Intestinal Permeability

Abstract

Endurance exercise training can increase intestinal permeability which may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in some athletes. Bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation reduces intestinal permeability induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study aimed to determine whether BC could also reduce intestinal permeability induced by endurance exercise. Thirty healthy adult males (25.0 ± 4.7 yr; mean ± SD) completed eight weeks of running three times per week for 45 minutes at their lactate threshold while consuming 60 g/day of BC, whey protein (WP) or control (CON). Intestinal permeability was assessed at baseline and after eight weeks by measuring the ratio of urinary lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R) excretion. After eight weeks the L/R ratio increased significantly more in volunteers consuming BC (251 ± 140%) compared with WP (21 ± 35%, P < 0.05) and CON (−7 ± 13%, P < 0.02). The increase in intestinal permeability with BC may have been due to BC inducing greater leakiness of tight junctions between enterocytes or by increasing macromolecular transport as it does in neonatal gut. Further research should investigate the potential for BC to increase intestinal macromolecular transport in adults.

Exercise regulation of intestinal tight junction proteins

“…Bovine colostrum has also been shown to protect the gut barrier during ischaemia reperfusion stress88 and hyperthermia89 in rats. Conversely, Buckley et al 90 showed an increase in exercise-induced gut permeability in runners after 8 weeks of bovine colostrum supplementation. The explanation for the conflicting results between the Marchbank and Buckley studies is unclear, but because colostrum facilitates small molecule transport prior to gut closure in infants, colostrom may enhance the cellular transport of the lactulose and rhamnose sugar probes 91.…”

Systematic review: exercise‐induced gastrointestinal syndrome—implications for health and intestinal disease

“…L‐citrulline and L‐arginine are precursors for nitric oxide production, which is a potent vasodilator, potentially enhancing blood flow into the intestinal microvasculature reducing exercise‐induced hypoperfusion and ischaemic . Glutamine and bovine colostrum have been proposed to enhance the expression of heat shock proteins (ie, proteins that protect cellular membrane under period of stress), which may protect the intestinal enterocytes, reduce intestinal permeability, and attenuate the development of local inflammatory pathways . However, due to heterogeneity methods across studies (ie, magnitude of exercise‐ and heat‐stress, population, supplementation period and dose) and discrepancy in outcomes, the evidence for the use of singular dietary supplements in the prevention and management of exercise‐induced gastrointestinal syndrome in human populations is not clear, and warrants further investigation.…”

Clinical applications of bovine colostrum therapy: a systematic review

“…19 Several studies have investigated the potential of bovine colostrum supplementation to prevent postexercise immune suppression. 38,52,55,64,65,[67][68][69][70][71][72] Mucosal defenses and levels of secretory immunoglobulin (Ig) A (IgA) have received particular attention, although numerous other immune variables have been investigated.…”

“…28,29,34,39,66,69 Nine studies specifically reported an absence of side effects. 26,30,33,41,42,47,55,74 In general, bovine colostrum is considered safe and well tolerated. 21,102…”