Health Benefits, Guidance and Safety

Whether you’re a mom or not, you’ve probably heard of colostrum (thanks, TikTok!). But just to recap, colostrum, also known as “liquid gold” in the pediatric world, is the milk that mammals secrete in the days after birth. Golden in color and thicker than liquid milk, colostrum is packed with nutrients to support growth and development, as well as antibodies and antibacterial substances (good bacteria needed to build and support the immune system).It is no exaggeration to say that this is a pretty big issue for young children’s development.

In the nutrition world, when an ingredient is touted as a “superfood,” like colostrum powder (a milk supplement), companies jump on the bandwagon and start making products to fill the demand. But is colostrum powder worth the hype? And most importantly, what actually happens to your body when you ingest it? We asked nutrition experts for the facts and the latest science on this emerging trend before you spend your hard-earned money.

Nutrition facts

Unlike the fresh colostrum that newborns receive, the colostrum in supplements for adults is dried or powdered. Its nutritional value is less clear. “The nutritional value of supplemental bovine colostrum varies depending on the brand and form of supplement you take,” says Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDNOwner of The Hormone Dietitian Supplemental cow colostrum may contain varying amounts of the following nutrients and compounds:

• calorie
• carbohydrates
• protein
• fat
• Vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, etc.)
• Minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, etc.)
• Other compounds (including antibodies and antibacterial agents)

Research has shown that cow colostrum has different nutritional properties than regular cow’s milk. For example, colostrum is rich in protein, immunoglobulins (antibodies), and antibacterial substances (substances that fight infections). However, it is important to note that these differences are found in liquid cow colostrum, not in supplement powder form.

And this is a major limitation: there is a lack of research on powdered colostrum and the nutrients these supplements contain. In addition, cow’s colostrum needs to be heat-treated during the production process. Lactoferrin, a protein with antiviral and antibacterial properties, is one of the nutrients in colostrum that is altered by heat. Taylor Wallace, PhD, CFS, FACNWallace, the George Mason University professor, adds that stomach acid can also affect the active ingredients in supplements, so it’s not clear which compounds in colostrum are actually available to the body and how they might affect health.

Potential Health Benefits of Colostrum

Due to the lack of data on colostrum powder, Wallace and Azzaro recommend caution before taking the supplement until more research is done. Here’s what you need to know about how colostrum powder can affect your health.

May Improve Gut Health and Digestion

One review of 28 studies investigating the use of bovine colostrum concluded that supplementation may be recommended in the future to improve microbiome and digestive health, but that there is currently a lack of data to make a recommendation. The potential benefits may be due to compounds found in bovine colostrum, such as antibodies and lactoferrin. Additionally, “colostrum may aid in tissue repair in humans,” Azzaro says. So it could potentially help repair damaged intestinal linings, which could help address the issue of leaky gut, she says. If you suffer from digestive symptoms, consult a dietitian who specializes in gut health before incorporating colostrum supplements into your routine.

May Support a Healthy Immune System

The natural colostrum secreted by mothers after birth has a direct effect on the immune system of newborns, and this is well-documented by scientific evidence. But now there is speculation that colostrum may play a similar role in supporting the adult immune system. “In infants, colostrum plays a key role in establishing the immune system. There is limited research in adults, but it may have a similar effect in adults because a large part of the immune system is in the gut,” says Azzaro. Additionally, vitamin D, found in colostrum, is one of the best nutrients for immune health and may also influence a person’s immune system response, although the research is still preliminary and limited.

Should I take colostrum supplements?

Unless you’re under the supervision of a doctor or registered dietitian, Azzaro doesn’t recommend adding colostrum supplements to your daily diet. “It’s not right for everyone,” she says. Plus, the lack of data makes it hard to recommend buying a colostrum supplement. At this point, we don’t know if it’s worth the price or if you’ll literally be wasting your money.

Furthermore, clinical trials often give subjects unusually high doses not normally achieved with supplements: studies using colostrum supplements in adults have reported doses of approximately 20 to 60 grams per day for up to eight weeks. Compare this to the typical daily recommended intake of supplemental colostrum, which is usually 1-2 grams.

Safety and Precautions

Now, if you and your medical team decide it’s worth a try, make sure you buy it from a brand that’s certified and verified by a third party — you want to be sure that what’s on the label is actually in the bottle and that the formula is free of contaminants.

It’s also important to remember that colostrum supplements contain dairy. “People who are allergic or intolerant to dairy or lactose should not take colostrum,” says Azzaro. Additionally, there isn’t enough research to support its safety for pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you have a hormone-sensitive cancer, she recommends talking to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to use colostrum.

Conclusion

While social media has led people to believe that taking colostrum powder will maximize your health, nutrition experts advise caution before taking this supplement on a daily basis. While current doses of supplemental colostrum powder are unlikely to cause serious harm in healthy people, more research, including clinical human trials, is needed to discover the true benefits of taking the supplement long-term. In the meantime, “don’t waste your money,” says Wallace.