Colostrum – What is it, composition and benefits 

Colostrum is the first milk released by mammals after giving birth. After five or six hours, its starts to lose its properties. From them on, the mother will produce breast milk in the following days and months.

That is why it is so important for mothers to breastfeed their children in their first hours of life. Its main objective is to ensure the complete development of the immune and digestive system of the newborn.

Index

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is a milky fluid that comes from the mammal glands of humans, cows and other mammals. This substance is produced on the first days after giving birth, before true breast milk is produced.

It contains protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, as well as antibodies that fight against bacteria and viruses.

This substance enhances the immune system of the newborn, protecting it against infections thanks to a series of antibodies and anti-microbial agents. Moreover, it supports factors such as the immunoregulation and antioxidants.

In addition, colostrum has other growth factors so that the newborn will be able to develop new muscle tissues.

Such are its properties, that just before producing antibiotics, people used bovine colostrum to combat infections. This is due to the high concentration of antibodies from this substance when compared to that of milk.

The antibody levels from colostrum can be 100 times higher than the ones from regular breast milk

Composition of colostrum

Colostrum is made up by:

• Specific Proteins: are those that have a prebiotic effect, improving the development of the intestinal flora.
• Non-specific Proteins help to combat infectious diseases while stimulating the growth of tissues.

Composition of Colostrum

Immunoglobulins

• Immunoglobulins: also known as antibodies, they are used by the immune system to identify, attack and neutralize strange elements like bacteria and viruses. Absorbing immunoglobulins is essential for the passive immunity of newborn mammals after being born.
• IgG: bovine colostrum has more IgG than any other immunoglobulin from colostrum. It is responsible for a great part of the immunity against invading pathogens. IgG also helps to activate other immune functions.
• IgA: it is located in areas like the gastrointestinal, respiratory and urogenital tracts. There, it performs a critical role in the immunity of the mucosa by neutralizing the pathogens.
• IgM is the first defense line against pathogens that enter the body. Above all, it attacks and inhibits bacteria.
• IgE plays an important role in allergic reactions and helps to fight against parasites from the digestive tract.
• IgD works together with IgM to send a signal to B cells, activating them. Moreover, IgD works with other immunoglobulins to enhance the immune system.

Proteins and Amino Acids

• Cytokines: colostrum has a high percentage of these elements which are capable of changing the biological response. These molecules can be used to signal proteins, peptides or glycoproteins that are used in cell communication. Cytokines play a specific role as growth regulators in epithelial cells, including intestinal inflammation and epithelial regeneration. Moreover, they are also important regulators of immune and inflammatory responses.
• Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that binds to iron. In fact, it is one of the anti-microbial components of the immune system that fights against bacteria and fungi in the body. It binds to metal ions which are necessary bacterial metabolites, which is why they are not available for bacterial development. This anti-inflammatory glycoprotein binds to free iron ions in biological fluids, transporting iron to the blood cells. Moreover, lactoferrin inhibits the growth of specific microbes, such as E. coli and Salmonella. In addition, lactoferrin has anti-viral effects as well.
• Lysozymes are anti-bacterial enzymes that support the immune system when the cell membranes are damaged by harmful bacteria. A special feature of lysozyme is how it interacts with other components from colostrum. Actually, it has been proven that it creates a synergy with lactoperoxidase, IgA and lactoferrin, fighting against E. coli and enhancing its anti-microbial properties.

From milk

• Lactoalbumin: it is an important nutrients and water soluble protein present in milk. Moreover, it contains essential amino acids which are necessary for the growth and development of the body.
• Lactoperoxidase is an important anti-bacterial enzyme from colostrum. It protects the mammary glands against infections, partly thanks to a complex that it forms with lysozyme. In addition, it works with lactoferrin to perform some anti-bacterial effects. Some viruses, like poliovirus, are sensitive to the toxic effects of lactoperoxidase against this harmful elements.
• Polypeptides rich in proline (PRPs): small amino acid chains that have a powerful effect at the beginning of immune responses. Some of their functions include: modulating the immune system, working as molecule signallers, stimulating the growth and differentiation of B cells, stimulating the activity of NK cells and increasing the proliferation of leukocytes.

Growth Factors

• Growth factors: they stimulate the cell growth and cell differentiation and maturation. In fact, the growth factors work like signalling molecules from one cell to another. That is how they manage to regulate many cell processes.
• Epidermic Growth Factors (EGF) play an important role in regulating the growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells. Moreover, the EGF group can help to regulate the development of the epidermis, mammary glands and bowel.
• Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) help to develop new blood vessels and support wound healing.
• Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1): these are the most abundant growth factors in bovine colostrum. In fact, these proteins are simple chain polypeptides with amino acids. They play an important role in childhood growth and they have an anabolic effect on adults.
• Platelet derived Growth Factor (PDGF) is one of the many proteins that regulate the cell growth and division. In fact, they play an important role in the formation of blood vessels.
• Transforming Growth Factors (TGF-alpha and TGF-beta): TGF-alpha stimulates the development of epithelial tissues. TGF-beta plays a crucial role in the tissue regeneration, cell differentiation, bone cartilage formation and immune system regulation.

Essential nutrients from colostrum

• Carbohydrates: from simple sugars to complex oligosaccharides, they are one of the three macronutrients (with fats and protein).
• Fats: they involve an important hormone factor
• Protein: the protein from colostrum provides essential nutrients for the growth of the muscle and thin tissue, amino acids. They consists of a great number of compounds known as “building blocks”. Amino acids are essential for our nutrition and muscle growth. Moreover, they help to provide energy.
• Vitamins: including vitamin A, B2, B9, B12, and D. To put it simple, they are organic essential nutrients that, with minerals, perform many biological functions.
• Minerals: including calcium, chloride, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. These are also catalysts of several bodily functions, such as the metabolism or ATP production.