Colostrum (also known colloquially as beestings[citation needed], bisnings[1] or first milk) is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals in late pregnancy. Most species will generate colostrum within one day of giving birth.
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Bovine colostrum and its components are safe for human consumption, except in the context of intolerance or allergy to lactose or other components. It shows promise in the treatment or prevention of a variety of disease states.[22][23][24] Bovine colostrum from pasture-fed cows contains immunoglobulins specific to many human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium parvum, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella, Staphylococcus,[25] 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.[26]
When antibiotics began to appear, interest in colostrum waned, but now that antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens have developed, interest is once again returning to natural alternatives to antibiotics, namely, colostrum.
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Hyperimmune colostrum
Hyperimmune colostrum was an early attempt to boost the effectiveness of natural bovine colostrum by immunizing cows with a specific pathogen and then collecting the colostrum after the cow gave birth. This initially appeared very promising as antibodies did appear towards the specific pathogens or antigens that were used in the original challenge.
However, upon closer examination and comparison, it was found that IgG levels in natural colostrum towards 19 specific human pathogens were just as high as in hyperimmune colostrum, and natural colostrum nearly always had higher antibody titers than did the hyperimmune version.[25] Therefore the usefulness of hyperimmune colostrum is questionable.
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Proline-rich Polypeptides (PRP)
PRP-rich preparations from bovine colostrum have shown some activity against various diseases including viral infections[45] of herpes viruses[46] and HIV,[47] as well as difficult to treat bacterial and fungal infections like Mycobacterium fortuitum[48] and Mycobacterium tuberculosis[49] (cause of tuberculosis), cryptosporidosis in AIDS patients,[50] and candida.[51]
Also for various forms of cancer, such as Hodgkin's disease,[52] osteogenic sarcoma,[53] prostate cancer,[54] and others. As an immune modulator, PRP is also effective in disease states characterized by an overactive immune system, such as allergies,[55][56] asthma,[57] and autoimmune diseases.[58]
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sparkle7
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Transfer Factor vs. Antibody Supplementation
A couple of years ago I tryed bovine colostrum. I found a organic dairy farm and bought a bunch and froze it. Then every other day I would make smoothies with about a cup of it.
I really seemed to help at the time. But I do not live close to a organic dairy farm and they only had the colostrum at certain times of the year. It was had to get. But I will try it again at some point.
Right now I am taking LDN and it seems to be helping more than the colostrum did. It is regulating my immune system.
I am also on Mepron and flagel. lr26
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sparkle7
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posted
With herbs - some people like the whole herbs since they have many different chemical components which may work together. I am kind of suspecting that this theory may also be true of colostrum...
The transfer factor is derived from the colostrum - sort of like making an extract from an herb. Both colostrum & transfer factor may have benefits. The colostrum is less expensive & less concentrated.
Hyperimmune milk & colostrum seem to be similar. The wikipedia article said there wasn't much difference in regards to health between them.
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Dawn in VA
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I personally like Synertek Colostrum. I have tried one other brand and did not notice any benefit, but the Synertek lozenges seem to help me fight off colds and such. On the pricey side, though.
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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sparkle7
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posted
I'm just wondering if any of this stuff is effective. Most of the milk products (whey, transfer factor, colostrum, etc.) we get are in a dried form. Is whatever makes these things beneficial still active?
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