Bovine Colostrum
Colostrum (known colloquially as beestings, beginnings or first milk) is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals (including humans) in late pregnancy. Most species will generate colostrum just before giving birth.
Colostrum contains antibodies to protect the newborn against disease, in part because the protein concentration in colostrum is substantially higher than in milk. As is the milk that is subsequently produced, colostrum is important for the nutrition, growth, and development of newborn infants and contributes to the immunologic defense of neonates.
Quality Control
Colostrum varies in quality and quantity. In the dairy industry, the quality of colostrum is measured as the amount of IgG (Immunoglobulin G) per liter. It is recommended that newborn calves receive at least 4 quarts (3.7 liters) of colostrum, with each containing at least 50 grams of IgG/liter.
Testing of colostrum quality can be done by a multitude of devices including colorimeter, optical refractometer, or digital refractometer.
Newborns have very immature and large digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. It has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the baby’s first stool, which is called meconium. This clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells, which is produced in large quantities at birth due to blood volume reduction from the infant’s body and helps prevent jaundice.
Immune system boost
Colostrum is known to contain immune cells (as lymphocytes) and many antibodies such as IgA, IgG, and IgM. These are some of the components of the adaptive immune system.
In preterm infants, some IgA may be absorbed through the intestinal epithelium and enter the bloodstream though there is a very little uptake in full term babies. This is due to the early “closure” of the intestinal epithelium to large molecule uptake in humans, unlike the case in cattle which continue to take immunoglobulin from milk shortly after birth as well.
Other immune components of colostrum include the major components of the innate immune system, such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, complement, and proline rich polypeptides (PRP). Some cytokines (small messenger peptides that control the functioning of the immune system) are found in colostrum as well, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, chemokines, and others.
Colostrum also contains several growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factors I (IGF-1) and II, transforming growth factors alpha, beta 1 and beta 2, fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factor, granulocyte-macrophage stimulating growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and colony stimulating factor-1.
LACTOACTIVE® – Grow, Repair and Protect
Colostrum is very rich in proteins, vitamin A, and sodium chloride, but contains lower amounts of carbohydrates, lipids, and potassium than mature milk. The most pertinent bioactive components in colostrum are growth factors and antimicrobial factors. The antibodies in colostrum provide passive immunity, while growth factors stimulate the development of the gut. They are passed to the neonate and provide the first protection against pathogens.
In human and animal cells, colostrum proteins have shown to interact with cell-surface receptors and influence processes such as morphogenesis, wound repair, and anti-inflammatory processes. But these factors can be limited due to the poor mechanical properties, rapid degradation and in-vivo clearance when bovine colostrum is used.
Bovine colostrum from pasture-fed cows contains immunoglobulins specific to many human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium parvum, Shigella Flexner, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus species, and rotavirus (which causes diarrhea in infants).
Before the development of antibiotics, colostrum was the main source of immunoglobulins used to fight infections. In fact, when Albert Sabin made his first oral vaccine against polio, the immunoglobulin he used came from bovine colostrum.
The proteins from bovine colostrum are stabilized and incorporated into a cream for potential use in inflammatory skin conditions to alleviate itchiness and redness.
Studies of a keratinocyte cell line showed enhance proliferation of the cells using stabilized colostrum – one of the key processes in the repair of damaged and inflamed skin.
Main Components of Bovine Colostrum
Colostrum’s Immune Factors
Immunoglobulins:
Immunoglobulins are protein molecules that can be efficacious, both prophylactically and therapeutically, against allergens, bacteria (including H. pylori), viruses, parasites, fungi, and yeast.
The immunoglobulins present in colostrum are predominantly IgA with trace amounts of IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. Human colostrum typically contains 2% IgG content, while whole bovine colostrum can have from 8% to 15% IGG.
Processing concentration techniques can yield as high as 40% colostrum, though such would no longer be a “whole” colostrum product, and some other factors are thereby diminished. Immunoglobin concentrations should be verified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Main Component of Bovine Colostrum & Bovine Milk
Factors & Functions
Immune system factors:
Proteins such as Immunoglobulins A, D, E, G and M, lactoferrin, lactalbumin, and lactoglobulin are present in significant amounts in bovine colostrum. These proteins have important biological functions. They are capable of modulating the immune response and thus help in decreasing inflammation.
Immune system functions:
In short, Immunoglobulins neutralize toxins and microbes in the lymph /circulatory system by destroying bacteria and are highly antiviral. Lactoferrin, an antiviral, anti-bacterial, iron-binding protein, modulates cytokine release. Receptors of lactoferrin have been found on several blood and skin cells (1, 2).
Cytokines and Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs):
PRPS are hormone-like substances that appear to help regulate some functions of the thymus gland by apparently stimulating an underactive immune system or inhibiting an overactive immune system. Cytokines such as interleukins (IL) regulate the duration and intensity of the immune response, are responsible for cell to cell communication, boost T-cell activity and the production of immunoglobulins. IL-10 is strongly anti-inflammatory.
Growth Factors in colostrum:
Helps to stimulate cell and tissue growth by stimulating DNA formation. Several studies show that these growth factors are capable of increasing T-cell production and accelerate healing (1, 2, and 3).
Because of the properties of the above components in colostrum, colostrum was chosen as the principal ingredient in the cream.
References:
1. Elfstrand L.; Lindmark-Manson H.; Paulsson M.; Nyberg L.; Åkesson B. (2002)
2. Kelly, G.S.(2003)
3. Korhonen, H, Pihlanto, A. (2007)