Colostrum: Nature's Own Immune Regulator & Psoriasis

I've been reviewing a number of articles & research papers regarding the link between colostrum and psoriasis, and these are the tip of the iceberg. There is much to learn and discover when it comes to this disease! Abnormal infiltration, proliferation and activation of dendritic cells within psoriatic lesions lead to T cell activation and proliferation, which in turn promotes keratinocyte activation and proliferation.

Milk growth factors as health products: Some technological aspects

Yves Pouliot Sylvie F. Gauthier

• Groupe STELA, Institut des Nutraceutiques et Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4

Abstract

Bovine milk and colostrum contain growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor IGF-I, IGF-II, transforming growth factor TGF-β1, TGF-β2, epidermal growth factor EGF, basic fibroblast growth factor bFGF and platelet-derived growth factor PDGF. A number of methodologies for the extraction of milk growth factors from milk, colostrum or whey have been developed. Cation-exchange chromatography has been widely used because of the basic nature of the growth factors. Also, microfiltration has been used for the concentration of some growth factors from colostrum, while ultrafiltration was successful only in separating IGF-I from IGF-II in whey. Growth factor extracts from milk, colostrum or whey have been used as therapeutic preparations for wound healing and in the treatment of inflammatory gut disorders. More recent applications are related to bone tissue regeneration and treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Safety and Efficacy of a Milk-derived Extract in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis: An Open-label Study

Y. Poulin, Y. Pouliot, E. Lamiot, N. Aattouri and S.F. Gauthier

Abstract

Background

XP-828L is a nutraceutical compound obtained by the extraction of a growth factors-enriched protein fraction from bovine milk. XP-828L may improve psoriasis.

Objectives

An open-label study was performed to determine the efficacy, tolerability and safety of XP-828L in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Methods

Eleven adult patients with chronic, stable plaque psoriasis on 2% or more of body surface area (BSA) received 5g of oral XP-828L twice daily for 56 days.

Results

All 11 patients completed the 56 days of treatment. At day 28, 6 of the 11 patients showed a reduction in PASI score. At 56 days, seven subjects had a decrease in PASI score ranging from 9.5% to 81.3%. Eight (8) out of 11 patients agreed to participate in an additional 8-week extension treatment phase. Improvement of psoriasis was maintained during the extension period. No clinically significant adverse events or laboratory abnormalities occurred.

Conclusion

XP-828L may improve psoriasis in patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis.

Psoriasis- Cause, Immunology, Treatment

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of stroke, and treating high blood lipid levels may lead to improvement. There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic. The most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly seen as red and white hues of scaly patches appearing on the top first layer of the epidermis (skin). Some patients, though, have no dermatological signs or symptoms.

In plaque psoriasis, skin rapidly accumulates at these sites, which gives it a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area, including the scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the outer side of the joint.

The disorder is a chronic recurring condition that varies in severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) and can be seen as an isolated sign. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthiritis. Between 10—30% of all people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, but it is believed to have a genetic component and local psoriatic changes can be triggered by an injury to the skin known as the Koebner phenemenon. Various environmental factors have been suggested as aggravating to psoriasis, including stress, withdrawal of systemic corticosteroids as well as other environmental factors, but few have shown statistical significance. There are many treatments available, but because of its chronic recurrent nature, psoriasis is a challenge to treat. Withdrawal of corticosteroids (topical steroid cream) can aggravate the condition due to the 'rebound effect' of corticosteroids.

Cause

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. There are two main hypotheses about the process that occurs in the development of the disease. The first considers psoriasis as primarily a disorder of excessive growth and reproduction of skin cells. The problem is simply seen as a fault of the epidermis and its keratinocyes. The second hypothesis sees the disease as being an immune-mediated disorder in which the excessive reproduction of skin cells is secondary to factors produced by the immune system. T cells (which normally help protect the body against infection) become active, migrate to the dermis and trigger the release of cytokines ( tumour necrosis factor – alpha, TNFα, in particular) which cause inflammation and the rapid production of skin cells. It is not known what initiates the activation of the T cells.

The immune-mediated model of psoriasis has been supported by the observation that immunosupressant medications can clear psoriasis plaques. However, the role of the immune system is not fully understood, and it has recently been reported that an animal model of psoriasis can be triggered in mice lacking T cells. Animal models, however, reveal only a few aspects resembling human psoriasis.

Compromised skin barrier function has a role in psoriasis susceptibility.

Psoriasis is a fairly idiosyncratic disease. The majority of people's experience of psoriasis is one in which it may worsen or improve for no apparent reason. Studies of the factors associated with psoriasis tend to be based on small (usually hospital based) samples of individuals. These studies tend to suffer from representative issues, and an inability to tease out causal associations in the face of other (possibly unknown) intervening factors. Conflicting findings are often reported. Nevertheless, the first outbreak is sometimes reported following stress (physical and mental), skin injury, and stresptococcal infection. Conditions that have been reported as accompanying a worsening of the disease include infections, stress, and changes in season and climate. Certain medicines, including lithium salt, beta blockers and the anti-malarial chloroquine have been reported to trigger or aggravate the disease. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and obesity may exacerbate psoriasis or make the management of the condition difficult or perhaps these comorbidities are effects rather than causes.Hairspray, some face creams and hand lotions, can also cause an outbreak of psoriasis.In 1975, Stefania Jablonska and collaborators advanced a new theory that special antibodies tend to break through into the lower layers of the skin and set up a complex series of chemical reactions.

Immunology

In psoriasis, immune cells move from the dermis to the epidermis, where they stimulate skin cells (keratinocytes) to proliferate. Psoriasis does not seem to be a true autoimmune disease.In an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses an outside antigen with a normal body component, and attacks them both. But in psoriasis, the inflammation does not seem to be caused by outside antigens (although DNA does have an immunostimulatory effect). Researchers have identified many of the immune cells involved in psoriasis, and the chemical signals they send to each other to coordinate inflammation. At the end of this process, immune cells, such as dendritic cells and T cells, move from the dermis to the epidermis, secreting chemical signals, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, which cause inflammation, and interleukin-22, which causes keratinocytes to proliferate.

The immune system consists of an innate immune system, and an adaptive immune system.

In the innate system, immune cells have receptors that have evolved to target specific proteins and other antigens which are commonly found on pathogens. In the adaptive immune system, immune cells respond to proteins and other antigens that they may never have seen before, which are presented to them by other cells. The innate system often passes antigens on to the adaptive system. When the immune system makes a mistake, and identifies a healthy part of the body as a foreign antigen, the immune system attacks that protein, as it does in autoimmunity.

Proposed model of psoriasis pathogenesis highlighting the role of IFN-α-primed moDCs, TLR stimulation and T lymphocytes.Under inflammatory conditions, blood-derived monocytes are potential precursors of skin DCs. GM-CSF necessary for DC development is produced by a variety of cell types in skin (neutrophils, keratinocytes, macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes and fibroblasts). IFN-α (a physiological factor for DC development) is mainly produced by pDCs. Stressed keratinocytes (through environmental factors including viral infections) release self-DNA and self-RNA that form complexes with the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL37. Self-DNA-LL37 and self-RNA-LL37 complexes activate pDCs to produce IFN-α. Self-RNA-LL37 complexes and viral ssRNA directly promote the phenotypical and functional maturation of IFN-α-primed moDCs. Other factors released by stressed keratinocytes include IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, which very likely influence IFN-α-primed moDC development. Furthermore IFN-α-primed moDCs produce IFN-α and IFN-γ themselves further contributing to their own maturation. In vivo under inflammatory conditions other cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and IFN-γ are also present in the psoriatic inflammatory infiltrate produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts, NK T cells and keratinocytes therefore IFN-α-primed moDCs are influenced by a variety of proinflammatory cytokines. Mature IFN-α-primed moDCs then possibly migrate to the skin-draining lymph nodes where they promote naive T cell differentiation into Th1 and/or Th17 cells through IL-12 and IL-23. These T cells migrate via lymphatic and blood vessels into psoriatic dermis and contribute to the formation of a psoriatic plaque. Th1 cells produce TNF-α and IFN-γ, which also stimulate keratinocyte proliferation. Th17 cells secrete IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22, which stimulate keratinocyte proliferation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines, antimicrobial peptides and chemokines. Th1 and Th17 cells can directly interact with monocytes by producing GM-CSF, TNF-α and IFN-γ and instruct these cells to differentiate into specialized moDC subsets. Figure is modified from Ref. 7. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. Abbreviations: moDC, monocyte-derived dendritic cell; GM-CSF, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; LL37, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide; NK, natural killer; pDC, plasmacytoid dendritic cell; ssRNA, single-stranded RNA; Th, T-helper; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.

In psoriasis, DNA is an inflammatory stimulus. DNA stimulates the receptors on plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which produce interferon-α, an immune stimulatory signal (cytokine). In psoriasis, keratinocytes produce antimicrobial peptides. In response to dendritic cells and T cells, they also produce cytokines, such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, which signals more inflammatory cells to arrive and produces further inflammation.

Dendritic cells bridge the innate and adaptive immune system. They are increased in psoriatic lesions and induce the proliferation of T cells and type 1 helper T cells. Certain dendritic cells can produce tumor necrosis factor-α, which calls more immune cells and stimulates more inflammation. Targeted immunotherapy, and psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, reduces the number of dendritic cells.

T cells move from the dermis into the epidermis. They are attracted to the epidermis by alpha-1 beta-1 integrin, a signalling molecule on the collagen in the epidermis. Psoriatic T cells secrete interferon-γ and interleukin-17. Interleukin-17 is also associated with interleukin-22. Interleukin-22 induces keratocytes to proliferate.

One hypothesis is that psoriasis involves a defect in regulatory T cells, and in the regulatory cytokine interleukin-10.

Is psoriasis curable?

No, psoriasis is not currently curable. However, it can go into remission and show no signs of disease. Ongoing research is actively making progress on finding better treatments and a possible cure in the future.

What is the treatment for psoriasis?

There are many effective treatment choices for psoriasis. The best treatment is individually determined by the treating physician and depends, in part, on the type of disease, the severity, and the total body area involved.

For mild disease that involves only small areas of the body (like less than 10% of the total skin surface), topical (skin applied) creams, lotions, and sprays may be very effective and safe to use. Occasionally, a small local injection of steroids directly into a tough or resistant isolated psoriasis plaque may be helpful.

For moderate to severe disease that involves much larger areas of the body (like 20% or more of the total skin surface), topical products may not be effective or practical to apply. These cases may require ultra-violet light treatments or systemic (total body treatments such as pills or injections) medications. Internal medications usually have greater risks.

For psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are generally required to stop the progression of permanent joint destruction. Topical therapies are not effective.

It is important to keep in mind that as with any medical condition, all medications carry possible side effects. No medication is 100% effective for everyone, and no medication is 100% safe. The decision to use any medication requires thorough consideration and discussion with your physician. The risks and potential benefit of medications have to be considered for each type of psoriasis and the individual patient. Some patients are not bothered at all by their skin symptoms and may not want any treatment. Other patients are bothered by even small patches of psoriasis and want to keep their skin clear. Everyone is different and, therefore, treatment choices also vary depending on the patient's goals and expressed wishes.

An approach to minimize the toxicity of some of these medicines has been commonly called "rotational" therapy. The idea is to change the antipsoriasis drug every six to 24 months in order to minimize the possible side effects from any one type of therapy or medication.

In another example, a patient who has been using strong topical steroids over large areas of their body for prolonged periods may benefit from stopping the steroids for a while and rotating onto a different therapy like calcitriol (Vectical), light therapy, or an injectable biologic.

Psoriasis in a Nutshell

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaling and inflammation (pain, swelling, heat, and redness). Skin cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface. This process is called cell turnover, and it takes about a month. With psoriasis, it can happen in just a few days because the cells rise too fast and pile up on the surface.

Most psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. They are often found on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. But they can show up other places such as fingernails, toenails, genitals, and inside the mouth.

Who Gets Psoriasis?

Anyone can get psoriasis, but it occurs more often in adults. In many cases, there is a family history of psoriasis. Certain genes have been linked to the disease. Men and women get psoriasis at about the same rate.

What Causes Psoriasis?

Psoriasis begins in the immune system, mainly with a type of white blood cell called a T cell. T cells help protect the body against infection and disease. With psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake. They become so active that they set off other immune responses. This leads to swelling and fast turnover of skin cells. People with psoriasis may notice that sometimes the skin gets better and sometimes it gets worse. Things that can cause the skin to get worse include:

• Infections
• Stress
• Changes in weather that dry the skin
• Certain medicines.

How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?

Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. The doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.

How Is Psoriasis Treated?

Treatment depends on:

• How serious the disease is
• The size of the psoriasis patches
• The type of psoriasis
• How the patient reacts to certain treatments.

All treatments don't work the same for everyone. Doctors may switch treatments if one doesn't work, if there is a bad reaction, or if the treatment stops working.

Topical Treatment:

Treatments applied right on the skin (creams, ointments) may help. These treatments can:

• Help reduce inflammation and skin cell turnover
• Suppress the immune system
• Help the skin peel and unclog pores
• Soothe the skin.

Light Therapy:

Natural ultraviolet light from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light are used to treat psoriasis. One treatment, called PUVA, uses a combination of a drug that makes skin more sensitive to light and ultraviolet A light.

Systemic Treatment:

If the psoriasis is severe, doctors might prescribe drugs or give medicine through a shot. This is called systemic treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat psoriasis unless bacteria make the psoriasis worse.

Combination Therapy:

When you combine topical (put on the skin), light, and systemic treatments, you can often use lower doses of each. Combination therapy can also lead to better results.

What Are Some Promising Areas of Psoriasis Research?

Doctors are learning more about psoriasis by studying:

• Genes
• New treatments that help skin not react to the immune system
• The association of psoriasis with other conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Probiotics & Colostrum

Many people take probiotics without realizing that it is essential to also take colostrum along with it. Probiotics and colostrum truly go hand it hand. This article will explain why it is so essential to take the two together.  If you are looking to relieve issues like colitis or chronic diarrhea, don’t skimp on taking the two together. The key to taking these is in knowing which ones to take for the individual & their unique needs. Taking the wrong ones can at best do nothing & at worst- make you sick. Just one example is if the person taking either one of these is lactose intolerant. Also there is often times the need to take different ones at different stages of the treatment. It can get complicated.

So what is colostrum? This is a substance that comes directly from a mother’s breast when she is nursing her child. This milk is also a rich source of probiotics. The combination of the colostrum and probiotics together build a strong immune system in the baby.

The fact is that probiotics are useless without colostrum. They will just go “in one door and out the other.” Why spend your money on probiotics if they will just be immediately leaving your system?  The reason why colostrum is so essential is that it allows the probiotics to stick to the inner surface of the GI tissue. This process enables the probiotics to remain permanently in your gut, instead of quickly just leaving your body.

Of course, if you take antibiotics at any point during your life, this will kill off the friendly bacteria regardless of whether you have taken it with colostrum or not.  In this case, you will need to repeat the cycle over again from the start and begin a new course of probiotics with colostrum. Different antibiotics require different probiotics to replace the specific strains that were killed off.

When you were first breastfed, this developed the mucosal lining in your body. This lining is so powerful that it can last a person’s whole life if he or she doesn’t take antibiotics. Of course, if you were never breastfed, you will need to take colostrum and probiotics to get this necessary ingredient into your system. When people are fed soy formulas, they are put at a major disadvantage as far as their health is concerned.

The fact is that colostrum helps to repair a wide variety of gastrointestinal issues. Usually, people take probiotics for issues like chronic diarrhea treatment or colitis cures and then are disappointed that this supplementation doesn’t work. When that is the case, the sufferer needs to remember how essential it is to take the correct colostrum-with the correct probiotic.

Colostrum: All you need to preserve health and vitality!

Colostrum Review

Colostrum is the first collection of a thick creamy liquid, without blood or infection, produced by the mammary gland of a parturient mother shortly after birth, usually within the first 6 hours. Colostrum is very important part of breast milk and lays down the immune system and confers growth factors and other protective factors for the young ones in mammals. This is the source of passive immunity achieved by the mother and is transferred to the baby. This is also the major source of secretory IgA and gives protection against gastrointestinal infections.

Colostrum Health Benefits

Colostrum is known to have benefits such as  passive immunization, benefits immunodeficient patients. The feasibility of obtaining surface immunoglobulin suitable for oral use, which may in future be administered to immunodeficient patients with gastrointestinal manifestations, from human colostrum and milk. Human and bovine colostrum have many similarities barring that bovine colostrum can be obtained in large quantity, so bovine colostrum may be as beneficial as human colostrum on various disorders in human beings. 

Colostrum Health Benefits - Individual Ingredients

Colostrum has many active ingredients; these active ingredients may benefit people in different aspects. This section features the key potential health benefits of colostrum ingredients:

Lactoferrin exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitice, and antitumoral activities. It is protective to intestinal epithelium, promotes bone growth, and accelerates the recovery of immune system function in immunocompromised animals. Lactoferrin  was used in the treatment of hepatitis C infection and the intestinal form of graft-versus-host disease. 

A proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) demonstrated a variety of immunotropic functions, including the promotion of T-cell maturation and inhibition of autoimmune disorders. PRP was recently found to improve or stabilize the health status of Alzheimer's disease patients. 

Casein and casein-derived peptides showed protective activities in enamel demineralization and as caries-preventing agents. The protein hydrolyzates were also protective in diabetic animals, reduced tumor growth, had antihypertensive activity and diminished colicky symptoms in infants.

Glycomacropeptide, a peptide derived from kappa-casein, exhibited various antibacterial and antithrombotic activities.

Alpha-lactalbumin (LA) demonstrated antiviral, antitumoral and anti-stress properties. LA-enriched diets were anxiolytic, lowered blood pressure in rats, prevented diarrhea, and led to a better weight gain in malnourished children. Because casein and LA have blood pressure lowering properties, intake of colostrum may probably benefit people at risk of high blood pressure. HAMLET, a complex of LA and oleic acid, was effective in patients with cutaneous papillomas. Lysozyme found application in infant formulas, the treatment of periodentitis, and the prevention of tooth decay. Milk enriched in lysozyme was used in feeding premature infants suffering from concomitant diseases. Interesting, antibacterial properties were exhibited by lactoperoxidase. Both lysozyme and lactoperoxidase required cooperative action with LF in combating bacteria. 

Antioxidants are cound in colostrum. In the study, colostral concentrations of antioxidant vitamins E, C, and A were 21.34 +/- 8.47, 148.92 +/- 43.64, 0.79 +/- 0.42 micromol/l, respectively. The antioxidant minerals copper, zinc, and iron contents were 19.17 +/- 11.73, 63.69 +/- 12.82, 11.44 +/- 1.46 micromol/l, respectively. Maternal characteristics did not have any influence on the colostral micronutrients. On the other hand, a study has shown a correlation between antioxidant (pro-)vitamin intakes during pregnancy (third trimester) and ORAC values of colostrum and transitional milk (both p < 0.05), but not with ORAC values of mature milk. Thus, women's dietary habits during pregnancy and lactation is important for the total antioxidant capacity of breast milk. 

Fatty Acids In addition to the antioxidant levels, researchers also found that geographic differences in maternal dietary composition could  impact the fatty acid composition of human colostrum.  For example, the contents of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and total n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (0.6, 0.4 and 1.4 wt.%) were higher in Australian than in European samples. While, Colostrum of Australian women contained a low polyunsaturated/saturated and n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ratios (0.28 and 1.58) and a low contents of linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids (7.8 and 0.4 wt.%). The contents of essential fatty acids, saturates and polyunsaturates were similar in the southern European countries Spain, Slovenia and France.  

Because colostrum has a variety of active ingredients, and each active ingredient carries a particular health benefits. It is expected that intake of colostrum may provide different types of health benefits.

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Colostrum Health Benefits - Research Findings

Diarrhea

The specific IgG from colostral antibodies of immunized bovine may provide benefit for those suffered from multibacteria-induced diarrhea. Researchers generated bovine colostral antibodies of cows immunized with a multivalent vaccine consisting of whole cells of 17 strains of pathogenic diarrhea bacteria, and they purified the specific IgG with high activities against these pathogens.

The specific IgG was found to have a strong activity of inhibiting in vitro growth and colonization in pathogens by agglutinating with bacteria and destroying cell walls. Normal IgG purified from non-immunized bovine colostrum is incapable of eliciting the same consequences as specific IgG. Specific IgG prevents enteroinvasive Escherichia coli/Salmonella typhi-induced diarrhea and may exert an effective protection by enhancing splenic NK cell activity, elevating IL-2 level and inhibiting excessive release of TNF-alpha in mice.  

Iimmunoglobulin (SIg) A prepared from colostrum pool greatly inhibit the invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli.  Researchers obtained  IgA preparations from colostrum and milk pools by salt precipitation. They evaluated the final products in terms of yield and purity, as well as antibody activity to bacterial antigens and toxins and inhibitory activity of bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells. They used the colostrum pool with the best yield and purity as a source of IgA. They found that their IgA preparations preserved the antibody reactivity against various microbial antigens, well comparable with the reactivity exhibited by the original milk and colostrum pools. SIgA preparations were able to inhibit greatly the adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to Hep-2 cells and the invasion of enteroinvasive E. coli. 

Appetite

Colostrum may have benefits of stimulating appetite. Ghrelin stimulates appetite by acting on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. The presence pf Ghrelin in blood stream under fasting conditions may transmit a hunger signal to the CNS or induces appetite stimulating effect.

Ghrelin and its mRNA have been found in numerous human tissues including breast. A research team compared the ghrelin levels in colostrum, mature and transitional milk and plasma in lactating women with plasma samples from non-lactating women. The researchers collected colostrum, transitional and mature milk samples just before suckling. They found that the ghrelin levels in colostrum, transitional and mature milk were elavated concomitantly with increasing plasma ghrelin after delivery. However, the origin of milk ghrelin is not known, but it probably comes from the plasma. 

Infections

It is believed that colostrum benefits people at risk of certain infections. Colostrum stimulates directly to i-IEL to polarize Th1 type, which may protect from infectious diseases and allergic diseases mediated by Th2 type responses. Researchers examined effects of oral administration of bovine colostrum on local immunity in intestine in adult mice. They supplied bovine colostrum or control milk orally to C57BL/6 mice for 1, 3 or 6 months. They then examined the intestinal microflora, fecal IgA, and lymphocyte population of gut-associated lymphoid tissues and their abilities of cytokine production.

Th1 stimulus for Th2-skewed immune response during infancy is important for reduction of incidence of allergic diseases.  The researchers found that the T cells in i-IEL were polarized to Th1 type after oral administration of bovine colostrum, though the cell populations of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) were not remarkably changed.  And, oral administration of bovine colostrum does not change the Intestinal microflora and IgA levels in feces. 

Maternal vaccination with polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine boosts the capacity of colostrum to inhibit adherence of pneumococci to pharyngeal epithelial cells. In breast-feeding populations, maternal vaccination might prevent pneumococcal disease in young infants.

Researchers examined Colostrum obtained from Gambian mothers who had been vaccinated with either Pneumovax II or Mengivax A&C (n=8 per group) during pregnancy  for inhibition of adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 6B and 14 to pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro. They found that pneumococcal adherence was significantly reduced in the presence of breast milk (P< or =.0001 for S. pneumoniae serotype 14; P=.036 for serotype 6B), independent of the concentration of secretory IgA antibodies. 

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficient patients predominantly suffer from respiratory and gastrointestinal infections since secretory IgA has important functions to protect mucosal surfaces. A study of 31 patients with viral upper respiratory tract infection shows oral bovine colostrum supplementation leads to a lower infection severity score than the placebo group. [13; Clin Respir J. 2011 Jul 29. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-699X.2011.00268.x]

Colostrum may even benefit people suffered from colitis. Prophylactic administration of colostrum improved clinical symptoms of colorectal inflammation in a well-established mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium -induced colitis. However, higher colostrum doses did not affect disease activity.

Athletic performance

Colostrum may benefit people in sports. Bovine colostrum has been shown to improve athletic performance, reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, and reduce intestinal damage and permeability caused by the administration of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Research scientists found that Supplementation with Bovine colostrum and whey protein during running training increases intestinal permeability in a study of 31 healthy subjects 

On the other hand, heavy exercise causes gut symptoms and, in extreme cases, "heat stroke" partially due to increased intestinal permeability of luminal toxins. Twelve volunteers completed a protocol (14 days colostrum/placebo) prior to standardized exercise. Gut permeability utilized 5 h urinary lactulose-to-rhamnose ratios. In vitro studies (T84, HT29, NCM460 human colon cell lines) examined colostrum effects on temperature-induced apoptosis, heat shock protein 70 expression and epithelial electrical resistance. In both study arms, exercise increased blood lactate, heart rate, core temperature by similar amounts. Intestinal permeability in the placebo arm increased 2.5-fold following exercise, whereas colostrum truncated rise by 80% following exercise. In vitro apoptosis increased by 47-65% in response to increasing temperature by 2°C. This effect was truncated by 60% if colostrum was present. Thus, colostrum supplementation may have benefits in enhancing athletic performance and preventing heat stroke.

Probiotics

In addition to providing nutritional benefits to infants, human colostrum is also source of probiotics to infant during breastfeeding. Researchers analyzed 70 samples of milked human colostrum and they found  several classical groups of microorganisms: mesophylic (68.6%); thermoduric (38.6%); psychrotrophic (8.6%); proteolytic (15.7%); proteolytic-psychrotrophic (1,4%); lipolytic (4.3%); molds and yeasts (11.4%); Staphylococcus aureus (44.3%); total coliforms (7.2%); and lactic acid bacteria (37.2%), thus characterizing a diversified microbiota 

Alzheimer's Disease

Colostrum may benefit people at risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Colostrum containing a proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) isolated from bovine colostrum, with immunoregulatory and procognitive properties, has shown positive benefits in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a study, researchers treated 33 patients with colostrum (containing 100 mg of PRP complex) every other day for three weeks, followed by a 2-week hiatus to avoid the development of hyporeactivity.  This mode of application, '3+2 weeks,' was used consistently throughout the 28 months trial. Researchers found colostrum induced slight but statistically significant improvement or stabilization of the health status of the patients in the trial. The side effects were emarkably mild, including anxiety, logorrhea, and insomnia, and subsided spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4 days).

Nature's own 1st line of defense & immunity: Colostrum

Important Facts About Colostrum

With colostrum growing in popularity, we have a responsibility to educate and inform the public about the important facts to consider about this remarkable substance. Especially, how colostrum works, how best to choose a brand of colostrum, and how best to use it for optimum health.

Colostrum supports the human organism in two main ways. First, its multiple immune factors and natural antibiotics provide strong support for the immune system. Second, its many growth factors offer a broad- spectrum boost to the organism to encourage optimum health and healing.

Colostrum’s Immune Factors

Studies show colostrum contains powerful immune factors (Immunoglobulins, Lactoferrin, Cytokines and Interferon) that work to restore potent immune function.

Immunoglobulins are large protein molecules, soluble in saline solutions but not water-soluble. These immunoglobulins comprise more than 40 percent of the proteins found in our blood serum. There are five classes of immunoglobulins found in all mammals, including humans. They all begin with the abbreviation/prefix Ig and are distinguished from one another by the capital letters A, D, E, G and M. Each has its own unique amino acid structure and specific function to perform in the body.  They occur in the body separately and in multiple combinations. Each type is able to attach to, penetrate, destroy or immobilize a specific antigen. Colostrum contains all five immunoglobulins.

IgA is found in blood serum and in saliva, tears and mucous membranes. IgG (the most abundant immunoglobulin found in bovine colostrum) is carried in the lymphatic and circulatory systems, where it helps neutralize toxins and other unwanted invaders. IgD and IgE are highly antiviral and IgM is a powerful bacteria fighter (antibiotic).

Colostrum also contains PRP (Polyproline-Rich-Peptides), shown in medical studies to help boost an underactive immune system. PRP helps restore the thymus gland to optimal functioning capability. The thymus produces the vital T-cells which fight viruses and antigens. The PRP found in colostrum also helps balance the overactive immune system present in autoimmune diseases — conditions in which the body actually attacks itself. This makes colostrum extremely effective with illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Scleroderma.

Finally (last but certainly not least) colostrum contains Lactoferrin, which has been shown in numerous research studies to be a potent, broad-spectrum natural antibiotic and anti-viral agent (pharmaceutical antibiotics have no effectiveness against viruses). In a recent study in The Netherlands, lactoferrin proved a powerful inhibitor of the HIV-1 virus, the main virus which causes AIDS. It also contains antibodies against a wide range of bacterial, fungal and protozoal pathogens. Plus, lactoferrin is a potent anti-oxidant which inhibits the harmful effects of free radicals.

Since the onset of almost all infectious and degenerative disease, including cancer and heart disease, is preceded or accompanied by lowered immune system function, the powerful support that colostrum gives the immune system can help prevent these dangerous conditions.

Colostrum’s Growth Factors

Equally important to the organism and part of the reason colostrum has been shown to be such a broad- spectrum remedy, are the many growth factors found in colostrum.  These seemingly miraculous substances have been shown to benefit tissue repair, boost the body’s ability to metabolize fat and build lean muscle tissue, balance blood sugar and brain chemical levels and even repair DNA and RNA.
Colostrum contains Insulin-like growth factor (IgF) which stimulates cellular growth and repair, Transforming Growth Factors (TgF) alpha and beta, which promote the synthesis and repair of RNA and DNA and the repair of muscle tissue in athletes; and Epithelial Growth Factor (EgF) which stimulates normal skin growth.
Colostrum’s growth factors have been shown to have so many positive effects that will be described in detail in other posts. For a more detailed description, please refer to “Colostrum The Ultimate Anti-Aging Weight Loss and Immune Supplement” by Daniel G. Clark, MD and Kaye Wyatt 

Colostrum Must Be Processed Properly To Retain Effectiveness


Unfortunately, colostrum’s biological activity can be severely compromised if it is subjected to the wrong types of processing. Excessive heat is particularly harmful (including the high temperatures that result when the substance is made into tablets).

Be sure to select colostrum that comes from cows that are pasture fed (eating only live feed), and are pesticide, antibiotic and hormone free. Artificial hormones, antibiotics and other toxic chemicals can minimize the effectiveness of the product and create unwanted effects in the person consuming the colostrum. Bear in mind that the “factory” for producing colostrum is the cow itself and if the cow is contaminated with these artificial toxins, hormones and drugs, the colostrum will be contaminated too. 

Health?

What is health indeed? According to Wikipedia, health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain (as in "good health" or "healthy"). The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946 as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as lacking operational value and because of the problem created by use of the word "complete", it remains the most enduring.

The maintenance and promotion of health is achieved through different combination of physical, mental, and social well-being, together sometimes referred to as the "health triangle".

Health is metabolic efficiency. Sickness is metabolic inefficiency. Nobody is totally healthy or totally sick. Each of us is a unique combination of health and sickness. And each of us has a unique combination of abilities and disabilities, both emotional and physical.

It is how well we cope with this combination that defines us.