Scientists are rediscovering some critical natural immune enhancers with the explosion of focus on enhancing immune function. Lactoferrin is one of the most fascinating. It is a biological protein essential component of colostrum — the first nourishment of mammals.

Lactoferrin is critical in nourishing and protecting newborns from infection through its immune-enhancing and antimicrobial effects. Through modern filtering technology, lactoferrin is separated from cow’s milk and made into a dietary supplement called bovine (cow) lactoferrin. 

Dietary supplements providing bovine lactoferrin are available from powdered bovine colostrum. But these products vary in concentration from 0.5 to 20%. Bovine colostrum products are available that are standardized to supply 20% lactoferrin and additional bioactive compounds to support the immune system, such as naturally occurring immunoglobulins G1 & G2 (IgG1, IgG2) and proline-rich peptides (PRP). Bovine colostrum must be low heat processed to preserve the biological activity of the immunoglobulins and lactoferrin. 

Over the past three decades, there has been an explosion of research into the health benefits provided by bovine colostrum and lactoferrin. This article will focus on lactoferrin’s anti-infective and immune-enhancing effects.² 

What Is Lactoferrin?

Lactoferrin is a compound from milk (lactose) and can bind iron (Ferrin). Initially, researchers thought that lactoferrin played a significant role in iron absorption in newborns. However, later research showed that it does not regulate iron absorption. 

Instead, when iron levels are low, lactoferrin will enhance iron absorption thereby improving iron status. And if iron stores are high, or there is an infection or inflammation, lactoferrin will sequester iron. Iron is fuel to the fire of an infection or inflammation. Iron stimulates the growth of many infecting organisms. And in inflammation, iron can generate free radicals that can damage body tissues. Lactoferrin can bind iron, keeping it from fueling both infection and inflammation. 

What Does Lactoferrin Do? 

Research has shown lactoferrin to exert considerable biological activity via other means than those related to iron. Here are some of the critical functions of lactoferrin (both as produced naturally in the body or taken as a supplement):²

• Regulation of iron metabolism
• Enhancement of immune function
• Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties
• Promotion of a healthy gut flora
• Antioxidant effects

One of the first things that researchers discovered was that bovine lactoferrin is converted to compounds known as lactoferricins through digestion in the human intestinal tract. These compounds are even more potent than human lactoferricins