Bovine colostrum supplementation: potential benefits in human and animal health

Colostrum is the “first milk” produced by mammary gland after parturition. It is richer in biologically active constituents, such as antimicrobial peptides, immune-regulating compounds and growth factors, than the subsequent mature milk. The biological value of colostrum is documented by thousands of scientific studies and clinical trials carried out both in vitro and in vivo, in human and animal models. Colostrum plays a role in defensive mechanisms, modulation of immune response, balancing the intestinal microbiota and in the growth, functional development and repair of several tissues. Thus, it may be effective in prevention and treatment of infections, acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases, immune system imbalances, neurodegenerative disorders and in reconstruction of damaged tissues. Colostrum is safe, has not contraindications also to high dose levels and the reported side effects of clinical relevance are limited. Recent advances in food technology of industrial dairying allow continuous availability of high quality colostrum. For all these reasons, unsurprisingly, pharmaceutical companies are moving in the market by producing supplements based on colostrum. In conclusion, in the next future, colostrum may have a complementary role to synthetic drugs in the prevention and treatment of several human and animals diseases.