Colostrum: A New Golden Era in Health and Disease

Abstract

Colostrum is the first fluid yielded from the mammary glands of mammals after parturition and is intended for ingestion by the newborn during the first hours of life. It is a complex biological fluid, contains immune and growth factors which helps in the development of immunity in the newborn. It contains Immunoglobulin’s that act as natural anti-microbial agents to actively stimulate the maturation of an infant’s immune system. It is used for treatment of many GIT diseases, Respiratory diseases, Cardiovascular and Metabolic disorders. Colostrum shows great beneficial effect as immunomodulator and anticancer agent. As antiviral agent there is a great scope in colostrum supplements. In this article, the current understanding of the composition of colostrum, i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, growth factors, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, nucleotides and nucleosides, cytokines, fats, vitamins and minerals, is reviewed. Besides providing immune support, colostrum has remarkable muscular-skeletal repair and growth capabilities. These growth factors have significant muscle and cartilage repair characteristics. They promote wound healing with practical implications for trauma and surgical patients. Colostrum growth factors have multiple regenerative effects that extend to all structural body cells, such as the gut. Colostrum also provides immunological balance, increases energy and reduces inflammation and illness.

Mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact and timely initiation of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan Africa

“…It is recommended that newborns are provided SSC given the many putative benefits such as mother-infant bonding facilitated by increased oxytocin (maternal reproductive hormone) production, enhanced breast-milk production, and breastfeeding success [ 28 ]. Breastmilk produced after delivery (parturition) within this sensitive period of the newborn’s life, is rich in colostrum, a thick complex biological yellowish fluid rich in nutrients, growth factors, and antibodies [ 29 ]. SSC also provides other physiological and psychological needs of the mother-infant dyad such as good sleep, joy, stable heart rates, optimal oxygen saturation levels, stable blood glucose levels, normal breathing patterns, enhanced temperature regulation, energy conservation for infant growth and weight gain, populating the infant with beneficial microbiota from its mother’s skin, and decreased infant crying [ 28 , 30 , 31 ].…”