Colostrum supplement benefits - Boosts immunity and resist infection

Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, Chatham, Kent, UK. G.Davison@kent.ac.uk

Abstract

Strenuous and/or prolonged exercise causes transient perturbations in immune function. It is well accepted that this is one mechanism contributing to the higher occurrence of infection (e.g. upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)) in athletes, especially endurance athletes. URTI or upper respiratory tract (URT) symptoms can negatively affect training and competition performance but athletes must train intensively to be successful. Therefore, interventions that can legitimately enhance immune function and reduce URTI risk can be of benefit to athletes. 

Bovine colostrum supplementation has been investigated as a possible nutritional countermeasure to enhance (or maintain) immune function, and reduce URTI risk, following strenuous or prolonged exercise and during intensive training periods. There is convincing evidence that daily supplementation with bovine colostrum, for a number of weeks (and preliminary evidence for acute effects after a single dose), can maintain intestinal barrier integrity, immune function and reduce the chances of suffering URTI or URT symptoms in athletes or those undertaking heavy training. The mechanisms are not fully understood at present but there is preliminary evidence suggesting that the effects on immune function are attributable, at least in part, to small bioactive components that survive digestion and are biologically available after consumption, but further work is required.

In summary, the balance of existing evidence does support the notion that bovine colostrum is beneficial for certain groups of athletes, such as those involved in strenuous training (e.g. endurance athletes), in terms of immunity and resistance to infection.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23075556

Pubmed - Modulation of human humoral immune response through orally administered bovine colostrum

Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, Finland.

Abstract

Eighteen healthy volunteers were randomized into two treatment groups and consumed liquid prepackaged bovine colostrum whey and placebo for 7 days. On days 1, 3 and 5, an attenuated Salmonella typhi Ty21a oral vaccine was given to all subjects to mimic an enteropathogenic infection. The circulating antibody secreting cells and the expression of phagocytosis receptors of the subjects before and after oral immunization were measured with the ELISPOT assay and flow cytometry. 

All subjects responded well to the vaccine. No significant differences were observed in ELISPOT values for IgA, IgG, IgM, Fcgamma and CR receptor expression on neutrophils and monocytes between the two groups. 

There was a trend towards greater increase in specific IgA among the subjects receiving their vaccine with bovine colostrum. These results suggest that bovine colostrum may possess some potential to enhance human special immune responses.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11549415

Pubmed - Use of immunoglobulin enriched bovine colostrum against oral challenge with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in mice

Southern Direct Meat Products Inspection Office, Tochigi, Tochigi 328-0033, Japan.

Abstract

An immunoglobulin enriched bovine colostrum preparation, IMMULAC (New Zealand Dairy Group, Cambridge, New Zealand), contains antibodies against various bacterial antigens. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of a commercial bovine colostrum preparation against infections with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in a murine model. 

Balb/c mice were given drinking water containing streptomycin for 3 days before and following oral challenge with streptomycin-resistant EHEC O157:H7 strain (O157-SM(R)). In mice pretreated with streptomycin, EHEC O157:H7 maintained stable levels of bacterial colonization in the intestines for the 3-week experimental time period. Oral administration of colostrum resulted in rapid decrease in the bacteria numbers compared with administration of skim-milk.Colostrum showed no direct in vitro bactericidal properties against either EHEC O157:H7. When sections prepared from cecum walls of streptomycin-pretreated mice were incubated in vitro with EHEC O157:H7, the colostrum significantly prevented the attachment of the organisms to the sections when compared with skim-milk. 

These results indicate that oral administration of bovine colostrum effectively protects mice against food-borne infections by inhibiting bacterial attachment to the intestinal mucous membrane, colonization and growth in the intestinal tract.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12516772

Pubmed - Oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates in bovine milk and colostrum

New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. pramod.gopal@nzdri.org.nz

Abstract

Oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates are some of the most important bioactive components in milk. A great deal of information is available on the biological function of the components from human milk. Their primary role seems to be in providing protection against pathogens by acting as competitive inhibitors for the binding sites on the epithelial surfaces of the intestine. Evidence is also available to support the role of some of these components as growth promoters for genera of beneficial microflora in the colon. 

Compared with human milk, levels of oligosaccharides in bovine milk are very low. Nevertheless, a number of neutral and acidic oligosaccharides have been isolated from bovine milk and characterised. The highest concentration of these molecules is found in early postparturition milk (colostrum). The chemical structure of the oligosaccharides and many of the glycoconjugates from bovine milk are similar to those in human milk. It is likely that bovine oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates can be used in milk products as bioactive components in human nutrition.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11242449

Pubmed - Health factors in colostrum

Division of Pediatric Gastroentrology, Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. brthapa1@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Colostrum is a breast milk produced after the birth of the newborn and lasts for 2-4 days. 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 the major source of secretory IgA and gives protection against gastrointestinal infections. In view of so many health factors through colostrum, the use of colostrum has been extended to so many health problems of mankind. Human and bovine colostrums have many similarities barring that bovine colostrum can be obtained in large quantity, so bovine colostrum has been used in various disorders in human beings. This is the nature's gift that is for the young ones to grow as well as for the treatment of many health problems in older age group.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16077241

Pubmed - Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on immune variables in highly trained cyclists

School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072. cshing@hms.uq.edu.au

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of low-dose bovine colostrum protein concentrate (CPC) supplementation on selected immune variables in cyclists. Twenty-nine highly trained male road cyclists completed an initial 40-km time trial (TT(40)) and were then randomly assigned to either a supplement (n = 14, 10 g bovine CPC/day) or placebo group (n = 15, 10 g whey protein concentrate/day). 

After 5 wk of supplementation, the cyclists completed a second TT(40). They then completed 5 consecutive days of high-intensity training (HIT) that included a TT(40), followed by a final TT(40) in the following week. Venous blood and saliva samples were collected immediately before and after each TT(40), and upper respiratory illness symptoms were recorded over the experimental period. 

Compared with the placebo group, bovine CPC supplementation significantly increased preexercise serum soluble TNF receptor 1 during the HIT period (bovine CPC = 882 +/- 233 pg/ml, placebo = 468 +/- 139 pg/ml; P = 0.039). Supplementation also suppressed the postexercise decrease in cytotoxic/suppressor T cells during the HIT period (bovine CPC = -1.0 +/- 2.7%, placebo = -9.2 +/- 2.8%; P = 0.017) and during the following week (bovine CPC = 1.4 +/- 2.9%, placebo = -8.2 +/- 2.8%; P = 0.004). Bovine CPC supplementation prevented a postexercise decrease in serum IgG(2) concentration at the end of the HIT period (bovine CPC = 4.8 +/- 6.8%, P = 0.88; placebo = -9.7 +/- 6.9%, P = 0.013). 

There was a trend toward reduced incidence of upper respiratory illness symptoms in the bovine CPC group (P = 0.055). In summary, low-dose bovine CPC supplementation modulates immune parameters during normal training and after an acute period of intense exercise, which may have contributed to the trend toward reduced upper respiratory illness in the bovine CPC group.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17095643

Pubmed - Augmentation of cellular immunity and protection against influenza virus infection by bovine late colostrum in mice.

Central R&D Laboratory, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 1-30-3 Toyokawa, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0057, Japan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

We investigated whether oral administration of skimmed and concentrated bovine late colostrum (SCBLC) activates the immune system and protects against influenza virus (Flu) infection.

METHODS:

Murine Peyer's patch (PP) cells (2.5 105) were cultured in 0.1 ml RPMI-1640 supplemented with SCBLC at a concentration of 0, 0.1 or 1.0 mg/ml. To determine the levels of IL-12 and IFN-, supernatants were collected on day 3. Mice were orally administered sterile saline solution (control group), or 400 g/g body weight (SCBLC 400 group) or 2,000 g/g body weight (SCBLC 2,000 group) of SCBLC for three weeks. These mice were measured for natural killer (NK) cells activity on PP cells, splenocytes and lung cells. Also, these mice in the control and SCBLC 2,000 groups were infected with Flu and were measured for the accumulated symptom rate.

RESULTS:

In PP cells cultured with SCBLC, the levels of IL-12 and IFN- were significantly increased in vitro. Oral administration of SCBLC to mice significantly increased NK cell activity of PP cells, splenocytes and lung cells. The accumulated symptom rate of the SCBLC 2,000 group was significantly lower than that of the control group in a mouse model of Flu infection.

CONCLUSION:

These results indicate that oral administration of SCBLC activates not only systemic cellular immunity but also local cellular immunity, such as in the respiratory tract, and that activation of cellular immunity is one of the mechanisms of amelioration of Flu infection.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22055477

Colostrum Benefits in Books and Journals

Excerpts from health books, natural living journals....

Judging by what came out of the 11th International Congress on Transfer Factors in Monterrey, in 1999 as well as recent information, hope for Africa lies in what has been known in medical literature for over 50 years as Transfer Factors or TFs.

The most abundant source of Transfer Factors today is cow colostrum, what Dr Rob Robertson calls "God's first gift to the newborn." Transfer Factors are the vital healing ingredients in colostrum.

Dr Robertson was for many years head of emergency medicine at the Western Baptist Hospital in Kentucky, USA, and is a regular radio talk show host on the subject.

Before cow colostrum was discovered as a rich source of Transfer Factors blood was the main source of this healing agent. Indeed, during the Kikwit epidemic, a Congolese surgeon seriously considered using the blood of those who had survived the initial attack to treat subsequent cases.

Dr Robertson says that, unlike antibodies, TFs are small molecules that are not consumed in the process of "binding" as happens when disease is confronted in the body.

Dr William Hennen, author of Transfer Factor, the Natural Immune Booster, who compounded the cutting edge variant of TF called Transfer Factor Plus, describes this immune agent as a "concentrated immune massaging system." Besides raising the IQ of the individual's immune system as well gathering intelligence so as to alert naive and dormant immune systems to the impending danger, TFs extracted from colostrum and taken orally are also able to boost "natural killer cell" (NK) activity as well as moderate an over-excited immune system through the "suppressor" component in TFs. Moreover, TFs will act as a memory agent for the immune system. Asserts Dr Hennen: "Transfer Factors are immune messenger molecules that educate and alert naive immune cells to an impending danger. They perform a catalytic role in the immune system."
Can Africa Avoid the Coming Killer Diseases? By Sam Wainaina, as posted online

"Bovine colostrum is full of immune-boosting transfer factors, such as hydrogen peroxide and IgG-type immunoglobulins" Hydrogen peroxide is a natural substance manufactured by normal, healthy human cells to regulate metabolism and attack invading pathogens. It also occurs naturally in rain and snow, in fruits and vegetables, and in mother's milk, with particularly high concentrations found in colostrum. In 1920, The Lancet reported the use of intravenous hydrogen peroxide by British Army doctors in India, who used it to treat troops suffering from influenza….
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 425

Antibodies are protein molecules set in motion by the immune system against a specific antigen. Also referred to as immunoglobulins, antibodies occur in the blood, lymph, colostrum, …. The antibody binds tightly with the antigen as a preliminary for removing it from the body or destroying it.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 22

… Cryptosporidium parasites cause acute diarrhea in people with strong, healthy immune systems but can be life-threatening in those who are immune compromised. Studies published in Infection & Immunity …have shown that colostrum is able to ameliorate or completely eliminate the clinical symptoms of those suffering from cryptosporidiosis.
Underground Cures by Health Sciences Institute, page 12

…Hyperimmune bovine colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins of the IgG type, which are protective against such infectious microorganisms as Cryptosporidium parvum (a major cause of AIDS-associated diarrhea), diarrheogenic Escherichia coli strains, Shigella flexneri, Clostridium difficile, and rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in young children.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 65

A bovine colostrum product derived from cows immunized against Candida albicans was reported to be effective in reducing levels of this fungal pathogen in severely immuno-compromised patients. …
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 66

Colostrum …It's rich in immune-supporting factors, and some alternative practitioners believe that it can help control both acute and chronic diarrhea, says Andrew Gaeddert, a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and director of the Get Well Clinic in Oakland, California. Look for a concentrated, purified, non-allergenic form of bovine (cow) colostrum and follow the dosage directions on the label, he advises.
Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb, page 212

In addition, Dr. Marrongelle recommends Woben-zyme, a German enzyme formula that can help reduce inflammation of prostate tissue, and colostrum, which is high in immunoglobulins (specialized immune defense proteins) that protect against infections. …
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 789

If you must take antibiotics, restore the body's "friendly" bacteria by taking a probiotic supplement,…. colostrum is another effective probiotic that can be taken on a rotating basis with acidophilus and bifidobacteria. Take 300 milligrams three times daily, between meals.
Smart Medicine For Healthier Living by Janet Zand LAc OMD Allan N Spreen MD CNC James B LaValle RPh ND, page 79

… The friendly bacteria not only fight Candida overgrowth, a common complication of ulcerative colitis, but they are required to resolve any condition involving the gastrointestinal tract.
Smart Medicine For Healthier Living by Janet Zand LAc OMD Allan N Spreen MD CNC James B LaValle RPh ND, page 206

Lactoferrin: Lactoferrin, an abundant protein component of human colostrum, binds to iron. By binding to iron, lactoferrin makes iron less available for use by bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms, including fungi and viruses, which use iron to promote their own growth. Lactoferrin's ability to regulate iron also influences T-cell, neutrophil, and monocyte proliferation, all essential components of the immune response. Iron-regulating strategies are also essential to normal growth and the control of the advancement of disease processes in the body.
Viral Immunity by J.E, page 294

… Another immunomodulator made from milk colostrum is Cytolog, which may also prove helpful in boosting the immune system to treat cancer.
Alternative Medicine by Burton Goldberg, page 602

… Other strains of bacteria, though not destroyed by colostrum, were strongly inhibited in their growth. Even more interesting is that friendly bacteria were not destroyed by colostrum. …
Healing Pets With Nature's Miracle Cures By Henry Pasternak DVM CVA, page 103

"Colostrum as an anti-cancer agent"

Phytic acid … is a powerful antioxidant. Phytic acid is found in very high concentrations in colostrum,…. A specially formulated form of phytic acid, called Cellular Forte with IP-6 is used to treat cancers of many types. One of its major effects is to prevent iron from reaching cancer cells. Its iron binding power is so great that it is also used to treat the iron-overload disease, hemochromatosis.
Health And Nutrition Secrets by Russell L Blaylock MD, page 335

"Transfer factors / colostrum as a powerful weapon against communicable diseases"

The Ebola outbreak in northern Uganda that spread to the southwest and west of the country over the past three months had the potential to cause a total breakdown of Uganda's medical service.

But if the proceedings of the 11th International Congress on Transfer Factors held in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1999, were taken seriously, the outbreak could have been contained sooner …

African nations are duty bound to remember that there may be no time for vaccines when these predicted epidemics explode across the continents. Judging by what came out of the 11th International Congress on Transfer Factors in Monterrey, in 1999 as well as recent information, hope for Africa lies in what has been known in medical literature for over 50 years as Transfer Factors or TF.
Can Africa Avoid the Coming Killer Diseases? By Sam Wainaina, as posted online

"More possible benefits of colostrum"

Colostrum … upon contact with stomach acid; inhibits attachment from, and kills campylobacter, Candida and e. coli bacteria (with colostrum Leucocytes), clostridium, food poisoning, helicobacter pylori, listeria, rotavirus, salmonella, shigellosis, and streptococcus; counters leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcers, chronic fatigue, diabetes, autoimmunity, (rheumatoid) arthritis, lupus, and cancers; improves intestinal assimilation of nutrients, inhibits protein breakdown, shifts energy sources from carbohydrates to fats, spurs glucose transport inmuscles,may inhibit scleroderma,fibromyalgiaandmultiple sclerosis.
Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 20

Leptin reduced food consumption 60% in Leptin-deficient mice, while increasing energy. Leptin is found in mother's milk colostrum: large fat cells indicate Leptin deficiency. Leptin-deficient obese mice lost 40% of body weightafter 1 month on Leptin, and reduced diabetes, eventually becoming as lean as the most athletic mice: while normal mice lost 12%ofbodyweight. Leptin was recently found to regulate at least six Gene clusters, inhibiting fat-production enzyme Acety 1-CoA-Carboxylase, reducing synthesis of fat cells, while improving fat-burning in muscle cells. …
Anti-Aging Manual by Joseph B Marion, page 10

Bovine colostrum's putative exercise-performance-enhancement is mainly attributed to such growth factors as IGF-1.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 65

Playford RJ, Floyd DN, Macdonald CE, et al. Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage. Gut. 1999; 44:653-658.
PDR For Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendle and David Rorvik, page 66

Taken as a supplement, colostrum can boost the immune system and help the body to burn fat and build lean muscle. It may also accelerate the healing of injuries, increase vitality and stamina, and have an anti-aging effect. …
Prescription For Nutritional Healing by Phyllis A Balch CNC and James F Balch MD, page 66

Pubmed - Prophylactic effect of bovine anti-Cryptosporidium hyperimmune colostrum immunoglobulin in healthy volunteers challenged with Cryptosporidium parvum

Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, USA.

Abstract
Bovine hyperimmune anti-Cryptosporidium colostrum immunoglobulin (BACI) decreases the intensity of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in vitro. We investigated the prophylactic effect of BACI in healthy adults challenged with C. parvum. After we established an oocyst dose that resulted in 100% infection in four volunteers (baseline group), 16 volunteers were randomized to receive (1) BACI prior to C. parvum challenge (BACI group) and a nonfat milk placebo 30 minutes later, (2) BACI prior to and 30 minutes after challenge (reinforced BACI group), or (3) nonfat milk placebo prior to and 30 minutes after challenge. Subjects received BACI (10 g) or nonfat milk placebo three times a day for a total of 5 days and were followed for clinical symptoms and oocyst excretion for 30 days. A trend toward less diarrhea (P = .08) was observed for subjects receiving BACI in comparison with occurrences in placebo recipients. Subjects receiving BACI or nonfat milk placebo had a 100-fold reduction in oocyst excretion as compared with excretion in the baseline group.

PMID: 9636857 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9636857

Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage - Pubmed

University Division of Gastroenterology, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective for arthritis but cause gastrointestinal injury. Bovine colostrum is a rich source of growth factors and is marketed as a health food supplement.

AIMS:
To examine whether spray dried, defatted colostrum or milk preparations could reduce gastrointestinal injury caused by indomethacin.

METHODS:
Effects of test solutions, administered orally, were examined using an indomethacin restraint rat model of gastric damage and an indomethacin mouse model of small intestinal injury. Effects on migration of the human colonic carcinoma cell line HT-29 and rat small intestinal cell line RIE-1 were assessed using a wounded monolayer assay system (used as an in vitro model of wound repair) and effects on proliferation determined using [3H]thymidine incorporation.

RESULTS:
Pretreatment with 0.5 or 1 ml colostral preparation reduced gastric injury by 30% and 60% respectively in rats. A milk preparation was much less efficacious. Recombinant transforming growth factor beta added at a dose similar to that found in the colostrum preparation (12.5 ng/rat), reduced injury by about 60%. Addition of colostrum to drinking water (10% vol/vol) prevented villus shortening in the mouse model of small intestinal injury. Addition of milk preparation was ineffective. Colostrum increased proliferation and cell migration of RIE-1 and HT-29 cells. These effects were mainly due to constituents of the colostrum with molecular weights greater than 30 kDa.

CONCLUSIONS:
Bovine colostrum could provide a novel, inexpensive approach for the prevention and treatment of the injurious effects of NSAIDs on the gut and may also be of value for the treatment of other ulcerative conditions of the bowel.

PMID: 10205201 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10205201

Pubmed - Colostrum and milk-derived peptide growth factors for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Department of Gastroenterology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.

Abstract
Colostrum is the specific first diet of mammalian neonates and is rich in immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors. In this article we review some of these constituents of human and bovine colostrum in comparison with those of mature milk. Recent studies suggest that colostral fractions, or individual peptides present in colostrum, might be useful for the treatment of a wide variety of gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced gut injury, and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. We therefore discuss the therapeutic possibilities of using whole colostrum, or individual peptides present in colostrum, for the treatment of various gastrointestinal diseases and the relative merits of the 2 approaches.

PMID: 10871554 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10871554

Pubmed - Effect of human milk and colostrum on Entamoeba histolytica

Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, 35340 Inciralti-Izmir, Turkey.

Abstract
AIM:
Many defense factors of the mother's colostrum or milk protect infants from intestinal, respiratory and systemic infections. In the present study, we investigated the effect of colostrum and mature human milk on E. histolytica parasites in vitro.

METHODS:
Samples of human milk were collected from 5 healthy lactating mothers. The medium with human milk at concentrations of 2%, 5% and 10% was obtained.

RESULTS:
The lethal effect of E. histolytica on the medium supplemented with different concentrations of both colostrum and mature human milk was significant during the first 30 min. We also detected that the results of colostrum and mature human milk were similar. No statistically significant differences were found between same concentrations of colostrum and mature human milk at the same times.

CONCLUSION:
Colostrum and mature human milk have significant lethal effect on E. histolytica and protect against its infection in breast fed children.

PMID: 14991951 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14991951

Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum to extremely low birth weight infants: theoretical perspectives

Infant Special Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Evanston Hospital, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.

Abstract
Studies in adults have shown that the oropharyngeal route can be used to effectively and safely administer interferon-alpha, an immune cell-derived cytokine, to patients who are unable to tolerate its parenteral administration. The mechanism for this appears to be the stimulatory effects of the cytokine, on the oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue system. Own mother's colostrum (OMC) is rich in cytokines and other immune agents that provide bacteriostatic, bacteriocidal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory protection against infection. OMC may be especially protective for the extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant in the first days of life; however clinical instability typically precludes enteral feedings during this period. Oropharyngeal administration is a potential alternative method of providing OMC. Oropharyngeal administration of OMC may have immunomodulatory effects on the recipient infant, and would be especially beneficial to the ELBW infant who would otherwise remain nil per os during the first days of life.

PMID: 18769379

Colostrum - Australia doesn't need introduction

Colostrum - Australia doesn't need introduction to colostrum's benefits and quality. Their neighbour New Zealand has been producing it since god knows when. Some literature on colostrum quality..