Colostrum
What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the milk produced during the first few days after birth. It contains high levels of antibodies (immunoglobulins), antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors. Colostrum is important for supporting the growth, development, and immunologic defense of newborn infants. [1]
Bovine colostrum contains higher total protein content than mature milk, mainly due to higher levels of immunoglobulins and casein. [1]
Bovine colostrum contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E and water-soluble B vitamins. Colostrum is also rich in essential minerals like calcium, copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. [1]
Bovine colostrum shows therapeutic potential for a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gut injury, short bowel syndrome, chemotherapy induced mucositis, and inflammatory bowel disease and Clostridium difficile. [1] It is thought colostrum favorably alters the gut microbiome as improves healing. [1]
There is also evidence that colostrum supplementation can improve immune function outside of the GI tract by reducing the number of flu-like episodes, reducing the number of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and diarrhea episodes in children. Colostrum immunoglobulins have also been shown to bind and neutralize human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). [1]
Colostrum is typically collected and frozen on the individual farms and shipped frozen to central processing facilities, where it is pasteurized, defatted (optional), lactose is removed, then processed into a powder. [1]
Is Colostrum Beneficial for Autism?
Colostrum and Autism
The study objective was to assess tolerability of a probiotic (Bifidobacterium infantis) in combination with a bovine colostrum product (BCP) as a source of prebiotic oligosaccharides and to evaluate GI, microbiome and immune factors in children with ASD and GI co-morbidities. Results suggest that the combination treatment is well-tolerated in this cohort. The most common side effect was mild gassiness. Some participants on both treatments saw a reduction in the frequency of certain GI symptoms, as well as reduced occurrence of particular aberrant behaviors. [12]
When considered within their family group, those infants not breastfed (with colostrum) within the first hour of life and who had a history of fatty acid deficiency symptoms were more likely to have an ASD diagnosis. [11]
The effects of early-life nutrition and human colostrum on the functional maturation of the duodenal villi in autistic rats with coeliac disease that might limit or prevent the coeliac risk with autism. [10]
Colostrum and COVID
These results suggest that feeding infants colostrum from COVID-19 mothers confers both nutritional and immune benefits, and provide molecular-level insights that aid breastmilk feeding decisions in cases of active infection. [9]
In this study, breast milk was not a source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Hand expression, when direct breastfeeding is not possible, appears to be a safe way of feeding newborns of mothers with COVID-19. [8]
A strong humoral immune response is present in the colostrum of women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 before delivering. The evolution and duration of the antibody response, as well as dynamics of the cytokine response, remain to be determined. [7]
Colostrum and Gastrointestinal Health
The main functions of colostrum are to provide essential nutritional components, strengthen the natural defense system, modulate immune response, balance intestinal microbiota and enhance the growth and repair of several tissues. Several studies and clinical trials carried out both in vitro and in vivo on humans and animals suggest the clinical benefits of bovine colostrum supplementation in gastro-intestinal diseases. [6]
In human trials, there is substantial evidence of efficacy of bovine colostrum in inflammatory bowel disease and in infectious diarrhea. [5]
Bovine colostrum includes a gamut of bioactive constituents, which together may alleviate the clinical course of inflammatory diseases, such as IBD. BC has been shown as an efficient anti-inflammatory supplement as a whole. Studies suggest that BC may counteract primarily the increase in proinflammatory cytokines, but the observed complexity of a cytokine storm in IBD patients allows to conclude that beneficial effects of BC also stem from other mechanisms of action. [13]
BC and related products have a significant benefit in reducing the frequency and relieving the symptoms of childhood infectious diarrhea. [4]
Colostrum and Skin Health
These results suggest that topical treatment of the liposomal bovine colostrum formulation would enhance skin health as the skin ages. [2]
Colostrum was reported to improve the growth rate of many cell types including skin (fibroblasts) and promote wound healing. [14]
Bovine colostrum-derived exosomes having excellent structural and functional stability offer great potential as natural therapeutic agents to repair UV-irradiated skin aging and damage. [3]
Colostrum and Pediatric Health
The limited number of studies in infants, and several studies in term and preterm piglets, suggest that feeding exclusive pasteurized bovine colostrum (BC), or as a supplement to infant formula, protects against several GI diseases, such as rotavirus diarrhea, NEC, sepsis, and CIM mucositis. The evidence suggests benefits and safety especially from hyperimmune BC products directed towards specific pathogens in infants and children. The mechanisms explored to explain the benefits of BC on GI diseases frequently suggest antimicrobial and immune-stimulating functions of Igs, potentially in synergy with other bioactives. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how all of these BC bioactive factors act independently or in synergy to promote growth and gut mucosal protection. [15]
Supplementation
Examples of common colostrum supplements include:
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any supplement or medication, always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure it is a good fit for your child. Dosage can vary based on age, weight, gender, and current diet.
Note: All supplements are linked to Amazon for convenience, however, buying supplements on Amazon does not guarantee quality, as there are many “unverified resellers” selling nutrition supplements. To buy supplements that are verified to be sent directly to the consumer, you can create an account on the Autism Dietitian FullScript and search for the respective supplement under “Catalog”.
Author
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
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[1] Playford RJ, Weiser MJ. Bovine Colostrum: Its Constituents and Uses. Nutrients. 2021;13(1):265.
[2] Jogi R, Tager MJ, Perez D, Tsapekos M. Bovine Colostrum, Telomeres, and Skin Aging. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021;20(5):538-45.
[3] Han G, Kim H, Kim DE, et al. The Potential of Bovine Colostrum-Derived Exosomes to Repair Aged and Damaged Skin Cells. Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(2):307.
[4] Li J, Xu YW, Jiang JJ, Song QK. Bovine colostrum and product intervention associated with relief of childhood infectious diarrhea. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):3093.
[5] Chandwe K, Kelly P. Colostrum Therapy for Human Gastrointestinal Health and Disease. Nutrients. 2021;13(6):1956.
[6] Menchetti L, Traina G, Tomasello G, et al. Potential benefits of colostrum in gastrointestinal diseases. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2016;8(2):331-51.
[7] Narayanaswamy V, Pentecost B, Alfandari D, et al. Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Response in Colostrum from Women Diagnosed Positive for SARS-CoV-2. Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(12):987-94.
[8] Marín Gabriel MÁ, Malalana Martínez AM, Marín Martínez ME, Anel Pedroche J. Negative Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to Hand-Expressed Colostrum from SARS-CoV-2-Positive Mothers. Breastfeed Med. 2020;15(8):492-4.
[9] Guo J, Tan M, Zhu J, et al. Proteomic Analysis of Human Milk Reveals Nutritional and Immune Benefits in the Colostrum from Mothers with COVID-19. Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2513.
[10] Selim ME, Al-Ayadhi LY. Possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats. World J Gastroenterol. 2013;19(21):3281-90.
[11] Brown CM, Austin DW, Busija L. Observable essential fatty acid deficiency markers and autism spectrum disorder. Breastfeed Rev. 2014;22(2):21-6.
[12] Sanctuary MR, Kain JN, Chen SY, et al. Pilot study of probiotic/colostrum supplementation on gut function in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms. PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0210064.
[13] Sienkiewicz M, Szymańska P, Fichna J. Supplementation of Bovine Colostrum in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Benefits and Contraindications. Adv Nutr. 2021;12(2):533-45.
[14] Vollmer DL, West VA, Lephart ED. Enhancing Skin Health: By Oral Administration of Natural Compounds and Minerals with Implications to the Dermal Microbiome. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(10):E3059.
[15] Sangild PT, Vonderohe C, Melendez Hebib V, Burrin DG. Potential Benefits of Bovine Colostrum in Pediatric Nutrition and Health. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2551.
