Why is colostrum significant?

Colostrum is the first food that is available to the newborn. It is not only highly nutritious but also contains substances (immunoglobulins and immune factors) that help to stimulate and augment the newborn’s immune system, thus helping to protect the vulnerable newborn from its new potentially harmful environment. Furthermore, it contains substances (growth factors and cytokines) which act to stimulate the development, maturation and proliferation of various tissues and organs. Human colostrum is not as powerful as other mammalian colostrum, and the amount of colostrum decreases over time. Human development is much slower than other species, so unlike a baby gazelle, for example, a human infant does not “hit the ground running” right after birth. This necessitates mothers breastfeed their babies for at least 2 years (and perhaps as long as 4 years) in order to provide optimal growth, development, and protection against disease-causing pathogens.

The significance of colostrum is best illustrated in farm animals, such as the horse, cow, goat, sheep and pig. In these animals passive transmission of immunity occurs after birth in the form of colostrum. If these animals do not receive colostrum in the first 12 - 24 hours following birth they have a very good chance of not surviving (mortality rates of up to 95% have been reported). Human babies won’t die without colostrum, but they’ll certainly have more developmental problems.

Colostrum also has a significant role in the first few days of an infant’s life. Babies are born with holes in their stomachs and small intestines, a natural condition known as intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut”. This allows for the immunoglobulins to easily pass through into the bloodstream.

Mom’s colostrum closes these holes after a couple days of breastfeeding. If babies are not continuously breastfed for the first 2 years, the holes re-open and Leaky Gut Syndrome develops. Even if babies receive adequate breastfeeding, specific lifestyle factors and medications can cause Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). Leaky Gut Syndrome is a primary cause of autoimmune diseases including diabetes, autism, asthma, allergies and in infants an increase in stomach and digestive issues, sudden infant death and infections of all types, including ear infections.