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There may be no more promising food for aiding immunity in these times than bovine colostrum (BC), say researchers writing in Food and Agricultural Immunology. They investigated “BC supplementation for improving the respiratory health in humans and the potential role of bioactive molecules from BC as adjunctive therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection (Coronavirus Disease 2019 – COVID-19).”
BC is the first secretion of the mammary glands during the first 2–4 days postpartum. It is rich in bioactive nutrients and immunological substances. The immunoglobulins present in colostrum lay the foundation of life-long immunity in the newborn. Colostrum’s bioactive ingredients help the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, prevent infections, promote differentiation of bone marrow stem cells, increase lean muscle mass, and decrease body fat in the newborn.
The researchers say that studies consistently show BC protects against respiratory infections.
A randomized, double-blind study with 38 children, aged 7–18 years, who had bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, showed that BC supplementation for three months was significantly effective in reducing nasal symptoms and improving lung function, according to a 2016 study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Another study, published in 2017 in the same journal, showed BC supplementation significantly improved nasal symptoms and lung function in children; asthma control and severity scores were significantly better.
A commercial supplement containing BC (SinergaTM) was evaluated in another cohort study published in 2014 in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology. The supplement proved to be efficient in reducing the number of respiratory infections episodes that required intervention with antibiotics in children. These results suggest that BC regular consumption could improve the respiratory health in children, weakening the severity of airway infections.
In a non-comparative study, another BC-based supplement (Pedimune®) was shown to be effective in reducing the number of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), diarrhea and hospitalization episodes for URTI and diarrhea in children aged 1-8 years. The study, published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, included 605 children who received 3.0 g of the supplement for 12 weeks. In addition to improving general well-being, 91.19% and 86.60% of the patients had a reduction in URTI and diarrhea episodes at the end of the therapy, respectively.
The major immune system modulation proteins present in BC are immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Studies have revealed that lactoferrin is effective in combating SARS-CoV-2. BC may constitute an alternative way to produce specific antibodies against COVID-19.
Based on the immune system boosting ability as well as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral/antibacterial activities, these scientists suggest, “Current evidence indicates that colostrum and its components may contribute as a non-pharmacological alternative for the clinical management of COVID-19. As BC was able to prevent virus infections and reduce the symptoms severity, perhaps BC supplementation could also have some positive impact as a prophylactic measure against SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
BC can be purchased as powder, capsules, and strawberry-banana wafers. Research demonstrates that gathering BC within the first six hours of birth produces the most immune factors.
