Colostrum

What is it?

Colostrum is the first form of milk produced by mammals immediately following the delivery of the newborn. It is rich in antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients, making it highly beneficial for supporting the immune system and overall health. Bovine colostrum, derived from cows, is commonly used as a dietary supplement.

How does it work for medicinal purposes?

Colostrum works through its high content of antibodies (immunoglobulins), growth factors, and nutrients. These components support the immune system, promote gut health, enhance tissue repair, and provide protection against infections.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The primary active ingredients in colostrum include:

• Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM): Antibodies that boost the immune system.
• Growth Factors (IGF-1, TGF-β): Promote tissue growth and repair.
• Lactoferrin: An antimicrobial protein that helps fight infections.
• Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs): Modulate the immune response.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Essential nutrients that support overall health.

What forms does it come in?

• Powder
• Capsules
• Tablets
• Liquid

What if I have an imbalance or deficiency?

There is no specific deficiency associated with colostrum itself. However, individuals with compromised immune systems, gastrointestinal issues, or poor tissue repair mechanisms may benefit from the nutrients and growth factors found in colostrum.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Colostrum has been used for centuries in traditional medicine across various cultures for its immune-boosting and healing properties. Bovine colostrum supplements gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly for enhancing athletic performance and supporting immune health.

What does Colostrum help with?

Colostrum is the first milk a mother makes after birth. Most supplements use cow colostrum, dried into a powder. It holds antibodies, growth factors, and lactoferrin.

The overall evidence grade on file is B. The strongest human trials cover gut leakiness in athletes, infectious diarrhea, and winter colds. Other uses rest on early human work or lab work alone.

• Catching colds and other upper airway infections
  Good evidence — several supplement trials run over winter in athletes and older adults. In several trials, people took colostrum through the winter months. They had fewer upper airway infections and fewer sick days. Researchers think it primes immune defence in the nose, throat, and lungs, but that part is a proposed mechanism.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Gut cramping and "runner's stomach" during hard training
  Good evidence — controlled human trials in endurance athletes. Hard endurance work, above all running, raises gut leakiness for a time. It can bring cramps, bloating, and urgency. In controlled trials, athletes took colostrum before and during training blocks, and their rise in gut leakiness was much smaller.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Traveler's diarrhea and gut infections
  Good evidence — human trials, with the strongest results from hyperimmune colostrum. Colostrum has been studied in people with infectious diarrhea. That includes traveler's diarrhea and cases from E. coli or rotavirus. Results were strongest with hyperimmune colostrum, which comes from cows vaccinated against a set germ.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Getting sick often, or feeling run down under stress
  Good evidence — the same winter supplement trials in athletes and people under heavy stress. In those trials, people under high physical or mental stress fell ill less often. Colostrum holds antibodies and lactoferrin. Lab work suggests these act first in the gut, where much of the immune system sits.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Recovering from hard workouts and building lean muscle
  Good evidence — randomised studies in trained athletes. In studies in athletes, those taking colostrum gained lean muscle and lost some fat. Markers of muscle damage after hard sessions were lower as well. The growth factor IGF-1 is the proposed reason, based on lab work.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T1
• Leaky gut (a gut wall that lets too much through)
  Early evidence — small human studies that measured gut leakiness, mostly in athletes. Leaky gut means the seals between gut cells let more pass into the blood. Studies that measured gut leakiness found lower readings with regular colostrum use. Lab and animal work ties this to growth factors called IGF-1 and TGF-beta.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T1
• Stomach ulcers linked to H. pylori
  Early evidence — early, small human research. H. pylori is the germ behind most stomach ulcers. Early research suggests colostrum may lower how much of it sits in the stomach. It has been looked at as an add-on to standard care, not a swap for it.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T1
• Low energy and burnout from overtraining
  Early evidence — preliminary research in competitive athletes. Overtraining syndrome brings long-running fatigue, weaker performance, and low immunity. Early work in competitive athletes gave colostrum during recovery. Some immune and hormone measures looked better, but this research is still preliminary.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T1
• Inflammatory or autoimmune gut conditions
  Not yet tested in people — lab work on proline-rich polypeptides; no human trial on file. Colostrum holds proline-rich polypeptides. In lab studies, these calmed an overactive immune response without shutting it down. The file holds no human trial here, so what this means for people is not known.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T1

What Colostrum has not been shown to do

• It has not been shown to replace antibiotic treatment for H. pylori; the research used it alongside standard care.
• It has not been shown to replace established drugs for inflammatory or autoimmune gut disease.
• The file holds no human trial of colostrum for autoimmune conditions outside the gut.
• No human trial on file tested colostrum for diarrhea that is not caused by an infection.
• It has not been shown to lift energy in people who are not athletes recovering from overtraining.

How to read this:

Each use above carries its own grade. A means steady results across human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small or early human studies. D means weak or mixed human evidence. "Insufficient" means lab or animal work only. A grade is about the strength of the research, not a promise for you. This page lists options and what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a treatment plan. Talk with your own clinician before you start anything new.

What can Colostrum help prevent?

• Upper respiratory infections during winter and high-stress periods
• Exercise-induced intestinal permeability (leaky gut from hard training)
• Infectious diarrhea from common gut pathogens

Which foods are rich in it?

Colostrum is not typically found in foods. It is a specific component of the first milk produced by mammals and is most commonly consumed as a dietary supplement.

What are possible side effects?

Colostrum is generally well-tolerated, but possible side effects include:

• Common (10-30%)
• Mild gastrointestinal upset (e.g., bloating, diarrhea)
• Less Common (1-10%)
• Allergic reactions (e.g., rash, itching)
• Rare (<1%)
• Hormonal effects (e.g., changes in menstrual cycle, breast tenderness)

What’s the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of colostrum for adults typically ranges from 500 to 1,000 mg, divided into one or two doses per day. Higher doses may be used for specific conditions under medical supervision.

How many days does it take to work?

Some benefits of colostrum, such as improved gut health and immune function, may be noticeable within a few days to a week. Full benefits, particularly for tissue repair and inflammation, may take several weeks to a few months to become apparent.

What time of day is best to take it?

Colostrum can be taken at any time of day. It is often recommended to take it on an empty stomach, either 30 minutes before meals or two hours after meals, to enhance absorption.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

It is best to take colostrum without food to enhance absorption and maximize its effectiveness. Taking it on an empty stomach can improve its bioavailability.