What are the four main health benefits of colostrum?
In Colostrum Function and Industrial Standards published by China Dairy Industry Association, four main health functions of colostrum were identified. These are:
Immune system modulation
In addition to boosting the body's natural defenses when the immune system is down, sometimes the immune system can be over stimulated. Over stimulation leads to a “hyper” immune response, and could cause arthritis, asthma, gastroenteritis, and inflammations. Colostrum, can modulate the immune function back to normal levels. Therefore, bovine colostrum has immune modulation effects rather than unilaterally increase immunity.
Gastrointestinal function improvement
Colostrum detoxifies the body starting with the gastrointestinal tract. The immune factors in colostrum inhibits or destroys harmful pathogens which can colonize the gut and cause major health problems such as Helicobacter pylori, Candida albicans, and many others, while promoting the growth of beneficial bacterial colonies. Colostrum also acts to heal the damage to the intestinal lining caused by the pathogens and toxins which can accumulate there. This prevents pathogens and toxins from entering the body and restores normal gut functioning.
Colostrum contains rich dairy proteins, vitamins and minerals, and a range of growth factors (such as EGF, TFG, Insulin-like GF) to promote bone density, and help with general growth and development. This effect is especially prominent in children taking colostrum supplements.
Colostrum can help delay the effects of declining organ function as a result of the aging process. After the age of 65, the production of immunoglobulins are dramatically reduced, lowing levels to from 50-70%. Colostrum can replenish some of this loss and the growth factors help slow aging through the promotion of cellular growth.