The Use of Bovine Colostrum in Medical Practice and Human Health: Current Evidence and Areas Requiring Further Examination

Playford, Raymond John

doi:10.3390/nu14010092

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…BC has been researched for its main constituents [87] in gastrointestinal health and disease [99], for supporting immune and digestive health [105], its effects on enteric bacteria [238], and in pediatrics [102]. Moreover, BC is rich in prebiotic components, such as oligosaccharides and glycans [87,89,239]. Prebiotics are substrates that are selectively utilized by the host's eubiotic commensal bacteria and confer a health benefit [240].…”

Section: Bovine Colostrum Oligosaccharides Short-chain Fattyaacids (S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Colostrum, the first milk that the mammal produces after birth, is a natural source of both macro and micro-nutrients [86,87]. It is rich in immunoglobulins, growth factors, and anti-microbial components [87][88][89][90][91]. Bovine colostrum (BC) is important for the nutritional and immunological support, growth, and development of the newborn calf [92].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prophylactic Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Intestinal Microbiota and Behavior in Wild-Type and Zonulin Transgenic Mice

et al. 2022

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The microbiota–gut–brain axis (MGBA) involves bidirectional communication between intestinal microbiota and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, central nervous system (CNS), neuroendocrine/neuroimmune systems, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and enteric nervous system (ENS). The intestinal microbiota can influence host physiology and pathology. Dysbiosis involves the loss of beneficial microbial input or signal, diversity, and expansion of pathobionts, which can lead to loss of barrier function and increased intestinal permeability (IP). Colostrum, the first milk from mammals after birth, is a natural source of nutrients and is rich in oligosaccharides, immunoglobulins, growth factors, and anti-microbial components. The aim of this study was to investigate if bovine colostrum (BC) administration might modulate intestinal microbiota and, in turn, behavior in two mouse models, wild-type (WT) and Zonulin transgenic (Ztm)—the latter of which is characterized by dysbiotic microbiota, increased intestinal permeability, and mild hyperactivity—and to compare with control mice. Bioinformatics analysis of the microbiome showed that consumption of BC was associated with increased taxonomy abundance (p = 0.001) and diversity (p = 0.004) of potentially beneficial species in WT mice and shifted dysbiotic microbial community towards eubiosis in Ztm mice (p = 0.001). BC induced an anxiolytic effect in WT female mice compared with WT female control mice (p = 0.0003), and it reduced anxiogenic behavior in Ztm female mice compared with WT female control mice (p = 0.001), as well as in Ztm male mice compared with WT BC male mice (p = 0.03). As evidenced in MGBA interactions, BC supplementation may well be applied for prophylactic approaches in the future. Further research is needed to explore human interdependencies between intestinal microbiota, including eubiosis and pathobionts, and neuroinflammation, and the potential value of BC for human use. The MGH Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee authorized the animal study (2013N000013).

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Section: Bovine Colostrum Oligosaccharides Short-chain Fattyaacids (S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prophylactic Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Intestinal Microbiota and Behavior in Wild-Type and Zonulin Transgenic Mice

et al. 2022

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“…Although other forms of processed BC are potentially available, caution is needed as bioactivity of BC is highly sensitive to heat exposure [ 25 ]. BC-containing consumer products that have undergone a heating/baking stage have a significant risk of loss of bioactivity (such as pro-reparative growth-factor activity or, in the case of IgG, antigen binding), even though the apparent concentration of IgG or individual growth-factor level appear unchanged [ 26 ]. Although CYP continued their usual diet during the study, a concern is the potential adverse effects of additives to improve the palatability of BC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Therapy to Improve Nutrition and Gut Health in Paediatric Crohn’s Disease; A Feasibility Study

et al. 2022

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Bovine colostrum (BC) has anti-inflammatory, anti-infective, growth and intestinal repair factors that may be beneficial in Crohn’s disease (CD). We assessed whether daily BC for up to 3 months was acceptable to children and young people (CYP) with CD in remission or of mild/moderate severity. CYP were randomised to receive either BC or matching placebo milk daily for 6 weeks (blinded phase); all received BC for the following 6 weeks (open phase). In 23 CYP, median (inter-quartile range) age was 15.2 (13.9–16.1) years and 9 (39.1%) were girls. A similar proportion of CYP in the BC and placebo arms completed the blinded phase (8/12, 75.0% and 9/11, 81.8% respectively). Twelve (70.6%) CYP completed the open phase with 7 (58.3%) tolerating BC for 3 months. Diaries in weeks 2, 6 and 12 revealed that most CYP took BC every day (5/7, 71.4%; 5/8, 62,5% and 6/11, 54.5% respectively). In interviews, opinions were divided as to preference of BC over the placebo milk and some preferred BC over other nutritional supplements. Symptoms, clinical and laboratory variables and quality of life were similar in the two arms. BC may be an acceptable nutritional supplement for daily, longer-term use in CYP with CD.

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“…Thus, efficacy in terms of scientific evidence alone does not seem to determine whether colostrum or fractions thereof are being used at the individual or societal levels. There are great variabilities among the available bovine colostrum products [ 136 ], partly due to variable industry treatments and fractionations (destroying parts of its bioactivity). In the public, knowledge from science appears to be combined with faith convictions to determine understanding and common beliefs regarding the health effects of colostrum.…”

Section: Colostrum Bioactivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Science and Faith to Understand Milk Bioactivity for Infants

Sangild

2024

Nutrients

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Milk bioactivity refers to the specific health effects of milk components beyond nutrition. The science of milk bioactivity involves the systematic study of these components and their health effects, as verified by empirical data, controlled experiments, and logical arguments. Conversely, ’faith in milk bioactivity’ can be defined as personal opinion, meaning, value, trust, and hope for health effects that are beyond investigation by natural, social, or human sciences. Faith can be strictly secular, but also influenced by spirituality or religion. The aim of this paper is to show that scientific knowledge is frequently supplemented with faith convictions to establish personal and public understanding of milk bioactivity. Mammalian milk is an immensely complex fluid containing myriad proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and micronutrients with multiple functions across species, genetics, ages, environments, and cultures. Human health includes not only physical health, but also social, mental, and spiritual health, requiring widely different fields of science to prove the relevance, safety, and efficacy of milk interventions. These complex relationships between milk feeding and health outcomes prevent firm conclusions based on science and logic alone. Current beliefs in and understanding of the value of breast milk, colostrum, infant formula, or isolated milk proteins (e.g., immunoglobulins, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and growth factors) show that both science and faith contribute to understand, stimulate, or restrict the use of milk bioactivity. The benefits of breastfeeding for infants are beyond doubt, but the strong beliefs in its health effects rely not only on science, and mechanisms are unclear. Likewise, fear of, or trust in, infant formula may rely on both science and faith. Knowledge from science safeguards individuals and society against ‘milk bioactivity superstition’. Conversely, wisdom from faith-based convictions may protect science from unrealistic ‘milk bioactivity scientism’. Honesty and transparency about the potentials and limitations of both scientific knowledge and faith convictions are important when informing individuals and society about the nutritious and bioactive qualities of milk.

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The Use of Bovine Colostrum in Medical Practice and Human Health: Current Evidence and Areas Requiring Further Examination

Abstract: Colostrum is produced by the mammary gland for the first few days following birth and is a rich natural source of macro- and micro-nutrients, immunoglobulins, and peptides with anti-microbial, immune modulatory and/or growth-factor activity [...]

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Prophylactic Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Intestinal Microbiota and Behavior in Wild-Type and Zonulin Transgenic Mice

Prophylactic Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Intestinal Microbiota and Behavior in Wild-Type and Zonulin Transgenic Mice

Dietary Therapy to Improve Nutrition and Gut Health in Paediatric Crohn’s Disease; A Feasibility Study

Science and Faith to Understand Milk Bioactivity for Infants

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