The Healing Power of Bovine Colostrum for Gut Health and Immunity
What’s the nutritional superfood almost all of us have had at some time in our life, and new mothers, dairy farmers, and Ob/Gyns know best? It’s colostrum, the first milk produced around birth. Today, bovine colostrum supplements are increasingly being studied for their effects on gut health, intestinal permeability, immune function, and infection prevention.
What Exactly Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is particularly important for a newborn infant because they lack a fully developed immune system. Colostrum provides important immunological factors such as immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, oligosaccharides, and cytokines, and many growth factors to support the developing infant’s digestive tract and beyond. These factors also interact with the intestinal microbiome and promote the population of healthy bacteria. This interaction with the gut microbiome may be one reason bovine colostrum has shown benefits across a wide range of digestive and immune conditions.
Colostrum isn't just food for newborns; it's one of nature's most concentrated sources of immune and growth-supporting compounds
When colostrum is consumed as a dietary supplement, it is not derived from a human host, but rather, is a product of the dairy industry. Differences exist between human and bovine colostrum (BC), with BC having high levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) while in human colostrum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) are the highest. High levels of IgG in BC are important because this portion of the protective immune response does not develop prenatally, it must be provided after birth. Because of its critical importance for the development of the calf, collection of colostrum for our use of its healing components occurs after the necessary amount has been fed to the calf to provide this passive immunization.
Animal Studies Show Colostrum Offers Broad Immune Support Against Infection and Allergies
Numerous studies have shown that consumption of colostrum may increase our immunity to infection in a similar manner. Interesting research has considered the use of colostrum immunoglobulins from cows that have been vaccinated against common diseases such as rotavirus to protect infants from infection as well as a treatment for infection. Hyperimmune colostrum has also been successfully used in this manner for the treatment and/or prevention for human disease caused by Cryptosporidium sp., Shigella sp., enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and Clostridium difficile infection. The protection hyperimmune colostrum may provide is not limited to enteric infections – data strongly suggest it also may protect against highly virulent forms of the influenza virus in a similar fashion.
From respiratory infections to intestinal permeability, bovine colostrum has been studied across a surprisingly wide range of health conditions
Colostrum is not just protective against infection; the many factors found in it also may help protect against allergies and asthma. Perhaps this is not surprising as many may be familiar with the epidemiological studies showing a lower incidence of allergic disease in breast fed infants. One reason may be its content of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, a signaling molecule involved in immune regulation and development of oral tolerance. In mice, administration of BC has been shown to promote a Th1 response, reducing levels of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 which is associated with Th2 (allergic) immune response.
Herein, we take a deeper look at the clinical data backing the use of BC for the treatment and prevention of infection and for the support of gut health.
Colostrum an Alternative or Adjunctive to Influenza Vaccination?
In addition to the many studies investigating the use of hyperimmune BC as treatment and a preventative for common gastrointestinal infections, colostrum also has been investigated in high-risk cardiovascular disease patients as an alternative or adjunctive to influenza vaccination. One of the challenges with influenza vaccination, of course, is viral mutation or the emergence of new viral strains. BC has been proposed as an alternative to vaccination because it provides a broad spectrum of immunoglobulins against common pathogens.
In a two-stage study, the first stage included healthy individuals divided into four arms: group A received only the flu vaccine, group B received the flu vaccine + 400 mg of freeze-dried BC daily, group C received only 400 mg of BC/day, and group D had no prophylaxis. The period of oral supplementation was eight weeks and vaccinations were given in the two-week period before the initiation of the study. Assessment at three months showed no significant differences between the groups B and C (both receiving BC), however, the group receiving only the vaccine had approximately four times more episodes of the flu and three times the number of days with disease. The number of days with malaise was highest in the vaccine group, even considerably higher than the control group, suggesting the vaccine itself also had this adverse effect.
In the second stage of the study, high-risk cardiovascular disease patients were divided into three treatment arms using a similar protocol as the first stage, however, in this portion of the study all groups received some form of treatment. Of the three treatments, the two groups receiving BC had only three events of cardiopulmonary problems while the group only having vaccination had six events resulting in one death. The incidence of hospital admissions was also significantly higher in the group only having vaccination.
Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Supplementation with colostrum has been shown to reduce symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in adults as well. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RDBPCT) of healthy active males, daily supplementation of 60 g of BC daily for eight weeks significantly reduced the proportion of subjects reporting URTI symptoms compared to placebo. In elite swimmers, daily supplementation of 25 g of BC also reduced reported URTI symptoms by week four of the intervention, with even lower reporting of symptoms the remainder of the 10-week intervention.
Colostrum Helps Reduce Severity and Frequency of Common Pediatric Infections
Perhaps not surprisingly, colostrum has been considered as a therapy in many pediatric settings. Often available as a powder that can easily be mixed into other dairy products or a smoothie, this also contributes to its common use in children. In a study in children (aged 1 to 6 years) with recurrent diarrhea or URTIs, daily supplementation of 3 or 6 g (depending on age) of BC for four weeks was shown to significantly reduce number of URTIs, episodes of diarrhea, and hospital admissions. Additionally, even though the period of intervention was only four weeks, the reduction in infectious events was maintained at two and six months.
A RDBPCT also evaluated the effectiveness of colostrum for the treatment of acute viral or bacterial diarrhea in children ranging in age from six months to two years. Children were given 3 g of BC or placebo in addition to standard of care with oral rehydration solution and supplemental zinc per the World Health Organization guidelines. At 48 hours, it was found that the children receiving BC had a significantly lower frequency of vomiting, diarrhea, and composite diarrheal disease severity scores compared to those receiving the placebo.
A 2019 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials further supports the use of colostrum for the reduction of childhood infectious diarrhea concluding “In the sensitivity analysis of studies with low risk of biases, bovine colostrum significantly reduced stool frequency, occurrence of diarrhea and pathogen detection.”
Intestinal Permeability, aka “Leaky Gut”
Last, but definitely not least, colostrum plays an important role in the maturation of the gut and other tissues. Multiple growth factors found in colostrum also impact the health of the gut lining. In addition to animal models showing protection against the adverse gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and chemotherapy, human studies have also demonstrated BC is protective in these and other settings.
One factor in colostrum which may play an important role in this is epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF promotes normal development of the gut, lungs, and skin, protecting infants from necrotizing enterocolitis, chronic lung disease, and respiratory distress syndrome. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is found at high levels in BC and also plays a role in tissue development and growth. Studies suggest IGF also may be a factor that helps protect the intestinal barrier and promote repair.
Intestinal permeability, often referred to as "leaky gut," describes increased passage of substances such as food particles and downstream products of gut microbiota activity through the intestinal barrier. In healthy volunteers, coadministration of BC with indomethacin (an NSAID) prevented the medication-induced increase in intestinal permeability, which increased three-fold after five days in the group taking a placebo along with the medication. In children with newly diagnosed acute lymphocytic leukemia, daily supplementation with BC alongside chemotherapy significantly reduced the severity of oral mucositis compared to those receiving placebo.
In healthy athletes, supplementation with BC has been shown to reduce intestinal cell damage incurred during hot-climate exercise and attenuate the exercise-related increase in intestinal permeability by 80%. Finally, in a study of critically ill patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (diagnosis unspecified), after 10 days, supplementation of BC was shown to significantly decrease intestinal permeability (assessed by plasma zonulin level), plasma endotoxin level, and the incidence of diarrhea.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Research on bovine colostrum continues to expand, particularly in areas involving gut barrier integrity, immune resilience, athletic recovery, and gastrointestinal health. Clearly, colostrum is a nutritional tool with substantial evidence showing its positive impact on human health, which likely can be traced back to the origins of humankind. Its broad range of benefits for all ages, and high level of tolerability even in the critically ill, make it a broadly useful tool to combat infection and gastrointestinal dysfunction in nearly all populations. At a time when public interest is growing in prevention strategies that support the body's natural defenses—a theme central to many current discussions about healthcare reform and chronic disease prevention—it is worth asking whether bovine colostrum deserves renewed scientific attention.
Written by Dr. Carrie Decker, ND
Commonly Asked Questions About Colostrum
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Bovine colostrum is the first milk produced by cows after giving birth. It contains immunoglobulins, growth factors, lactoferrin, and other bioactive compounds that support immune and gastrointestinal health.
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Bovine colostrum is commonly used to support immune function, gut health, and athletic recovery; reduce intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”); and for protection against certain infections.
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Numerous studies in humans suggest bovine colostrum may help support intestinal barrier function and reduce intestinal permeability in settings of increased stress on the digestive system, including exercising in hot temperatures and with NSAID use.
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Studies generally show bovine colostrum to be well tolerated in both children and adults, although individuals with dairy allergies should consult a healthcare provider before use. Colostrum contains very low levels of lactose sugars (approximately 20x less than a cup of milk per serving) which usually is not a problem for someone with lactose intolerance.