BOVINE COLOSTRUM POWDER : AN EMERGING NUTRACEUTICAL

BOVINE COLOSTRUM POWDER : AN EMERGING NUTRACEUTICAL

The first secretion of the mammary gland after childbirth is known as colostrum, and its composition significantly changes in the first days, differentiating it from mature milk (Rathe et al., 2014). Bovine colostrum is a food having abundant composition in immunological agents which play a passive immunity role in the newborn, guaranteeing protection and assisting in developing the calf ’s gastrointestinal system (Nikolic et al., 2017). The antimicrobial factors present in colostrum act to protect the neonate against infections, especially in the first weeks after birth (Menchetti et al., 2016). The use of human food supplementation should take into account variations in the composition according to species, breed, food management, number of calves, and processing practice, among others (Menchetti et al., 2016). Its composition is rich in solids, protein, immunoglobulins, fat, and growth factors, among others, having aroused interest for their inclusion in human consumption for both developing pharmaceuticals and food derivatives (Marnila & Korhonen, 2011; Yurchenko et al., 2016). Studies on the benefits of bovine colostrum for humans have been developed for centuries, although they are still not yet fully elucidated (Bodammer et al., 2011). In addition, in a review of equine colostrum, Barreto et al. (2019) also elucidated several benefits in food and human health.

Colostrum Powder, referred to as “first milk,” is a substance generated by humans or mammals during the first few days after birth or at the end of pregnancy. We may also say it as the milky fluid generated prior to the production of actual breast milk. It offers a number of advantages that can assist in leading a healthier life with a strong immune system and high energy levels. And it saves the newborn from various deadliest infectious diseases.

In addition, the substance which is frequently made from cow colostrum is called bovine colostrum powder. Like human colostrum, it’s high in proteins, vitamins, and other biological elements.

Bovine colostrum has evolved to be a “super nutrient” with a high concentration of bioactive factors and essential nutrients. Production of colostrum powder should thus be as gentle as possible to maintain the bioactivity. Research and studies on the technical details in the production of bovine colostrum powder is as important as research on the chemical structure of the commodity. Both factors are important in order to develop the optimal product to be used in research on therapeutic effects in clinical trials.

 The first milk produced by animals, including humans, is colostrum powder. Because of its thick, yellowish, or golden appearance and various nutritional properties, it is frequently referred to as “liquid gold.” It is produced in the mammary glands and secreted during childbirth.

This is crucial for the baby’s growth in every way. It aids biological growth in newborns and animals due to its high nutritious composition. Furthermore, colostrum has more protein than breast milk and is quite beneficial. If you provide colostrum to your infant or animal, it will benefit them in a variety of ways.

Everything in colostrum helps the newborn’s early development, including physical growth, digestion, and so on, notably the high levels of antibodies. It contains a lot of proteins, vitamins, and other immunologically active compounds that help the immune system fight against infections caused by bacteria and viruses.

More interestingly, colostrum powder is called a booster dose because of all of these aspects, and it also boosts your immunity, which we all know we need following Covid19.

What Does Colostrum Contain?

Colostrum contains plenty of proteins, vitamins, nutrients, and other components like immunoglobulins, leukocytes, lactoferrin, other immunomodulatory factors, growth factors, hormones, and oligosaccharides. All these nutrients are rich enough to nourish the child’s growth. Therefore, here we have discussed some nutrients with their health benefits which include

• Immunoglobulin A:Immunoglobulin (IgA) is a significant component of milk and colostrum immune action. These are thought to be one of the most powerful components for curing infectious illnesses, bacteria, yeast, and other organisms. Further, Colostrum contains five different forms of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.Whereas IgG is the most abundant immunoglobulin in bovine colostrum, with very minor levels of IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM. Also, human colostrum has a normal IgG concentration of 2%, but bovine colostrum has an IgG content ranging from 8% to over 25%.
• AntiBodies:Colostrum has been considered effective for specific antibodies against rotavirus, H. pylori, cryptosporidium, salmonella, candida, streptococcus, staphylococcus, and E. coli.
• Growth Factors:Human colostrum typically contains two growth factors: CAGF (epidermal growth factor) and CBGF (platelet differentiation growth factor). Meanwhile, it is beneficial to our bone and muscle repair. As a result, colostrum is used by many sportsmen and celebrities to maintain high energy levels throughout their performance.
• Lactoferrin:Lactoferrin is a protein found in both cow and human milk. Lactoferrin is a protein included in Colostrum powder that helps enhance immunity. It also aids protein in iron-binding that have antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also protects us from contagious diseases like cancer, herpes, and many more.

 

Bovine colostrum composition-

 Colostrum is the first food of newborn mammals, being produced in the first days after birth. Its composition differs from mature milk because it presents a higher concentration of solids, protein, immunoglobulins, fat, and growth factors, among others (Marnila & Korhonen, 2011). The marked differences observed in bovine colostrum and mature milk compositions have evidenced different biological functions of the two fluids (McGrath et al., 2016). Colostrum composition varies by species (Gregory, 2003), as can be seen in Table 1. The high fat and protein values for bovine colostrum (Table 1) are higher than the means found for fat (4.69%) and protein (3.62%) of mature milk (Czerniewicz  et  al., 2006). The high concentration of protein in colostrum is related to its high immunoglobulin concentration, which decrease during lactation until reaching the mean for this component in mature milk (Kamel et al., 2015). Different from the values observed for colostrum, the IgG and IgA immunoglobulins in mature milk represent 0.72 and 0.13 mg/mL, respectively (Gapper et al., 2007), demonstrating the importance of colostrum feeding by the neonate. Evaluating the rheological characteristics of bovine colostrum and their correlation with IgG concentration, Ceniti et al. (2019) observed a significant decrease in solid-liquid balance and elasticity index values as well as in the IgG concentration was observed. A suitable correlation (R2 = 0.737) between the elasticity index values and the IgG concentration was evidenced. The study found suitable and valuable information towards understanding the rheological behaviour of colostrum at different times of milking. Thanks to the suitable correlation between the elasticity index values (obtained by microrheological evaluation) and the colostrum IgG concentration, Rheolaser Lab® technique can be proposed as a promising tool for the analysis of colostrum quality. Colostrum has a significant amount of lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme in its composition, which have antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics. Lactoperoxidase acts on liposaccharide binding, regulating bacterial growth, while lactoferrin has toxic properties for a number of Gram-positive and negative bacteria, as well as antiviral characteristics, and lysozyme acts on the immune system, attacking the peptidoglycan component of Gram-positive bacteria, causing bacterial lysis (Pakkanen & Aalto, 1997). The antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral actions of colostrum allow the destruction of certain pathogens such as Escherichia coli, rotavírus and Cryptosporidium (Bagwe et al., 2015). According to Davison (2012), the immunological gain in using bovine colostrum in human feeding is due to the possible survival of some bioactive components in the digestion process which allow immune responses. The use of colostrum for producing immunoglobulins on an industrial scale is interesting because it presents high bioavailability and safety when compared to blood derivatives (Anamika Das & Seth, 2017). The use of IgG, which is present in high quantities in bovine colostrum as an antimicrobial agent, differs from other conventional products because it does not result in changes in the intestinal microbiota, in addition to not favoring the emergence of resistant microorganisms (Steele et al., 2013). In analyzing colostrum composition, Bagwe et al. (2015) and Marnila & Korhonen (2011) emphasize that bovine colostrum is an abundant source of fatty acids when compared to mature milk. Some fats present in colostrum, such as conjugated linoleic acid, play a role in preventing cancer (Godhia & Patel, 2013). The profile of unsaturated fatty acids in bovine colostrum can be seen in Table 2. It can be observed that the lipid profile of bovine colostrum has lower concentrations for saturated fatty acids and higher values for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In studying the fatty acid profile of bovine colostrum, Mašek et al. (2014) highlighted colostrum as a possible functional food alternative for humans due to its lower amount of saturated fatty acids when compared to milk, as well as the greater participation of unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic-conjugated acid, which has beneficial characteristics for human health. When studying the lipid components of bovine colostrum in the first 5 days after calving, Contarini et al. (2014) observed that the colostrum had a different fat composition in the first 24 hours than the fluid produced after four or five days and the milk of half lactation, highlighting an abundant concentration of essential lipids for the neonate such as omega-3 and phospholipids (mainly sphingomyelin) and cholesterol, while concentrations for trans fatty acids like linoleic-conjugated acid were lower in the first hours of production. The high concentration of bioactive components in bovine colostrum such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, leukocytes, immunoglobulins and cytokines guarantee immune protection until the newborn’s body is able to develop its own responses (Satyaraj et al., 2013). These characteristics have attracted the interest of the pharmaceutical industry to bovine colostrum components and their applications in human health (Marnila & Korhonen, 2011). Gosch et al. (2013) conducted a study aiming to determine whether membrane microfiltration can be applied to bovine colostrum for reduction in microbial content as it is applied in conventional milk processing. Standard industrial-scale ceramic membrane elements with various pore sizes and channel diameters were utilised in cross-flow microfiltration experiments to examine flux performance as well as the retention of micro-organisms and proteins. Additionally, comparative experiments with skimmed raw milk were performed. Although there are still some drawbacks that have to be dealt with, it has to be emphasised that cross-flow microfiltration is one of the very few methods that allows a considerable reduction in the microbial content of heatsensitive materials, such as bovine colostrums (Gosch et al., 2013). Regarding the concentrations of valuable substances such as IgG and lactoferrin, microfiltration with 1.4 and 0.8 lm provided a product that is close to the original raw material.

Colostrum Powder Health Benefits

There are several fascinating health benefits if you are a colostrum consumer which we will see below.

• Supports and enhances your immune system.
• It also supports the formation of a healthy gut in the infant and prevents dangerous germs from being consumed.
• It’s high in protein and carbohydrates, which are very beneficial.
• Protects you from life-threatening disorders, including diarrhea, cancer, and others.
• It can also prevent obesity and build strength.
• Colostrum powder is also considered beneficial for the skin, which is quite impressive.
• Helps in the initial days for infants and animals to have better growth.
• Support skin healing, i.e., give your skin a radiant appearance
• Helps in the rehabilitation of athletes.
• Also helps in muscle recovery
• It contains immunologically active substances that strengthen your immune system, in addition to vitamins and proteins.

 

Benefits of immunoglobulin A (IGA)

 

Serum IgA concentration is 2-3 mg/mL, which makes it the second most abundant immunoglobulin in serum, behind only IgG with values of 12 mg/mL; however, IgA production by the organism is 5 times faster than IgG (Woof & Kerr, 2006). Salivary immunoglobulin (A S-IgA) plays a protective role in mucosal areas such as the respiratory tract, genitals and gastrointestinal tract, and is considered important in the defense against pathogenic invaders (Woof & Kerr, 2006). Appukutty et al. (2012) studied the consumption of colostrum supplementation in adolescents involved in regular physical exertion. The authors observed that administration of 20 g of bovine colostrum supplement increased S-IgA production when compared to young women receiving a skim milk supplement. Patıroğlu & Kondolot (2013) followed the use of bovine colostrum in treating children with upper respiratory tract infections due to IgA deficiency and observed a reduction in the severity of infections. The researchers emphasized that the patients did not report problems related to the use of colostrum.

 

Benefits of lactoferrin-

 

Lactoferrin is a protein found in colostrum and breast milk (Buttar et al., 2017), and is considered the main protein found in milk serum of all mammals (Manzoni, 2016). It acts in preventing lung, bladder, colon, esophagus and tongue cancer by improvements provided to the immune system. Lactoferrin has antineoplastic actions that act in different ways depending on the type of cancer; it can act in altering the cell membrane, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis action, metastasis inhibition and cellular necrosis. It is extracted from colostrum or produced by recombinant DNA technology, and is added to conventional formulas in certain countries because it is considered a safe food supplement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research has shown that lactoferrin has a high resistance rate to digestion (Manzoni, 2016), in addition to favoring benefits to infant intestinal health by reducing the pathogenic microbial load (Manzoni, 2016). In vitro studies show that lactoferrin has inhibitory action against several viruses. Its oral administration in animals and humans showed satisfactory results against the common cold, influenza, viral gastroenteritis and herpes (Wakabayashi et al., 2014). In in vivo and in vitro studies conducted by Eliassen et al. (2002), lactoferrin showed cytotoxic activity against cancer cells, resulting in a significant decrease of tumors.

Benefits of lysozyme—

 

Like lactoferrin, lysozyme is an enzyme that is present in bovine colostrum and acts as a bactericidal barrier destroying the integrity of the bacteria cell wall together with other bactericidal agents present in the colostrum (Ribeiro et al., 2016). According to Rainard & Riollet (2006), lysozyme is produced by epithelial cells and leukocytes, and performs bactericidal function by the hydrolysis of the peptideoglycans present in the cell wall of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria causing cellular breakage. In a study conducted by Davison & Diment (2010) to determine the effects of supplementation with bovine colostrum on neutrophil function and the release of salivary lysozyme after a resistance exercise known as acute depression of innate immunity, 20 male volunteers with mean age of 25 years were divided into two groups. One group received isoenergetic supplementation with bovine colostrum and another group with milk protein. The supplementation occurred for 28 days. On the 28th day the subjects were exposed to two hours of training on an ergometric system with electric brakes. In conclusion, the authors reported that daily supplementation with bovine colostrum during a period of 4 weeks increases the recovery of neutrophilic function, in addition to preventing salivary lysozyme release under immunosuppression conditions after physical exercise.

 

Human supplementation with bovine colostrum—

 

Bovine colostrum has been used in human food for thousands of years in India, and in the United States its use as an antibacterial agent occurred until the development of antibiotics. However, in the 1990s there was an increase in research with the objective of using bovine colostrum for human consumption, as well as in developing products containing colostrum in their formulations (Jenny et al., 2010). Historically, bovine colostrum use in India has occurred since the domestication of this animal species and is employed in both medical processes and spiritual rituals (Godhia & Patel, 2013). In India, colostrum is offered along with mature milk, presenting therapeutic action in the fight against influenza in older adult patients (Conte & Scarantino, 2013). Also in India, the use of bovine colostrum to irrigate the eye during surgeries in the ocular region is documented in an ancient Indian medicine known as Ayurveda (Buttar et al., 2017). In the Western World, the use of colostrum in medicinal form dates from the 18th century, with its use aimed at improvements in the immune system. Colostrum was widely used in the fight against bacterial diseases until the development of penicillin (Godhia & Patel, 2013). Although it has beneficial properties to human health, therapeutic use of bovine colostrum in the past has been limited due to technical factors such as the oxidation be related to developing type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or diseases related to autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune connective tissue (Wang et al., 2000). Supplementation with bovine colostrum reduces intestinal permeability (Hałasa et al., 2017). Studies have shown that immune enhancement and exercise performance in individuals supplemented with bovine colostrum is limited and is not able to influence body composition during a period of intense training (Davison, 2012). However, other studies suggest gains in performance of athletes who practice frequent exercise, as well as improvements in recovery (Shing et al., 2009) and elevation in the reserve of antioxidant mechanisms which protect the skeletal muscle against oxidative lesions resulting from physical exercises (Appukutty et al., 2012). Nutritional interventions to maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier and, therefore, avoiding these complications during and following exercise in the heat are somewhat limited. However, bovine colostrum (Col) has shown to be both effective in blunting the heat-induced increase in permeability in vitro and in vivo in animals and humans. March et al. (2019) conducted the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of colostrum to reduce intestinal injury following exercise in the heat. This could hold particular relevance to athletes who are required to compete in hot and humid conditions and those individuals whose work (e.g. soldiers, firefighters) necessitates exhaustive physical exertion in such environments. (March et al., 2019). Studies which have evaluated bovine colostrum supplementation in sporadic sports practitioners show that their use may be related to decreased fat, lean mass gain, strength gain, acceleration in the healing process and improvements in immune response, generally being affected after excessive exertion (Godhia & Patel, 2013). Hałasa et al. (2017) observed a group of 16 female martial artists aged between 20 and 43 years in order to evaluate the use of bovine colostrum supplementation in athletes with intestinal permeability. One subgroup received supplementation based on 500 mg of bovine colostrum and another banana-based placebo twice daily for 20 days. The patients underwent a series of tests including fecal collections to assess intestinal permeability. The intestinal permeability in the group that received colostrum-based supplementation was reduced to limits considered normal. Long-term high-intensity training can cause a decline in immune function in athletes. In this study, Zhang (2019) have explored whether bovine colostrums (BC) could improve the immune function in athletes undergoing intensive training. Thirty professional athletes were randomly divided into control group and bovine colostrum group; both groups received one month of intensive training. The control group received usual colostrum-free diet and the bovine colostrum group was fed bovine colostrum-rich milk every day. The results show that BC can increase the number of lymphocytes, an important cellular component of immune response. Also, BC increased the number of lymphocytes important for the regulation of immunity. After training, the albumin of athletes in the control group increased significantly, globulin decreased to about 21 g/L (normal value was 20-30 g/L), and A/G increased significantly. The serum albumin of the BC group did not change significantly.

 

Use of bovine colostrum in producing dairy products –

 

In recent years, some studies have aimed at producing dairy foods with added bovine colostrum for human consumption, as can be seen in Table 3. Yogurts with different colostrum additions were studied by Ahmadi et al. (2011), Ayar et al. (2016) and Abdel-Ghany & Zaki (2018), the authors observed that the addition of bovine colostrum in yogurt production showed good sensory acceptance. A similar fact was observed by Saalfeld et al. (2012) with the production of milk drinks and butter with the addition of bovine colostrum silage. Other products with added colostrum that showed good sensory acceptance were reported in a study by Mouton & Aryana (2015) with ice cream developed with bovine colostrum added, and in a study conducted by Nazir et al. (2018) with the production of fermented milk with different bovine colostrum percentages. Other studies which also aimed at evaluating bovine colostrum in producing food for human consumption were developed by Poonia & Dabur (2012), who produced a traditional Indian dessert called Khess; and also by Anamika Das & Seth (2017) who elaborated curds with colostrum addition. From a technological point of view, lactic acid bacteria are one of the most interesting groups of bacteria and they are widely used as starter cultures in different fermentation processes (Ruiz et al., 2016). Functional properties and safety assessment of lactic acid bacteria isolated from goat colostrum for application in food fermentations was evaluate in order to establish their industrial value. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that the behavior of isolates varied with the properties assayed, and while some of them highlighted by their technological properties, other as Lac. garvieae P27M15 was the best as probiotic because of its higher resistance to low pH and to the bile salts. Therefore, it can be concluded that some isolates found have functional propertie and safety to be considered potential candidates for practical application as starters/adjunct cultures in food fermentations (Ruiz et al., 2016).

Is Colostrum Powder Effective In Increasing Immunity?

First and foremost, colostrum powder contains all of the essential nutrients that your infant requires throughout the early stages of life. And, as compared to breast milk, this powder component has a lot of advantages that you’ll need for healthy growth. Furthermore, it is most effective to be taken by anyone because it contains vitamins, proteins, and many other comparable components. When compared to cow milk, it is likewise extremely beneficial and strengthens 100 times more.

In addition, experts have confirmed that this is correct and useful in boosting your immunity as well as your energy levels. Hence, your child can have a lovely childhood, which is something that many mothers wish for. Overall, colostrum powder will be beneficial to you.

 

Side-Effects Of Colostrum Powder

Many false reports about Colostrum Powder have surfaced. Colostrum, on the other hand, does not appear to have many harmful consequences, according to study. But first, let’s look at the potential adverse effects of colostrum powder.

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Anemia
• Abnormal liver enzymes

 

Bovine colostrum surplus

Bovine colostrum is the first milk produced by cows to give to their newborn calf. The calf needs about 5 liters of colostrum to secure its immunity and functionality of the gut. The cow produces 10-15 liters of colostrum, leaving 5-10 liters in surplus that can be collected by the farmer and used for other purposes. We only use such surplus colostrum collected from healthy dairy cows in our products. The colostrum in our products comes from Holstein-Friesian cows in Denmark. The company is responsible for the full production line and do not use subcontractors or purchasing product. Our products consists of pure Danish intact bovine colostrum.

 

Keep the milk matrix intact

Colostrum is the optimal first nutrition for neonates and it contains all the nutrients necessary to give the newborn the best possible start on life. It is a product optimized by nature to be a “super nutrient” rich in bioactive factors and nutrients and with a complex milk matrix that is important for the bioactivity and effect of most of the components in the fluid. Several studies have reported that intact bovine colostrum provides better effects when digested orally as diet supplement compared to synthetic products, altered colostrum products, heavily processed colostrum, and like.

 

Based on these facts, our most important focus when working with colostrum is to keep the production process as simple and gentle as possible to protect and preserve all the bioactive factors and nutrients in the colostrum. This is important, as the beneficial effects from bovine colostrum seems highly dependent on the presence of an intact milk matrix inclusive fat. During the production, we do not remove or add anything to or from the colostrum during the production process, except water during the spray drying. We have developed a technology that make it possible to maintain the intact milk matrix in our colostrum powder.

 

On the dairy farm

The process begins with the dairy farmer collecting surplus colostrum from healthy dairy cows and puts it directly in 10-liter buckets delivered sterile from the company. The buckets with colostrum are placed in a deep freezer at the farm after the dairy farmer have performed the first quality check of the collection.
•    First quality check is visual and performed by the dairy farmer directly after collection to secure the general quality of the colostrum.

 

Collection and transport of colostrum on dairy farms

The company empty the deep freezer at the dairy farmer and transport the colostrum back to the company fabric. Before the transportation, the second quality check is performed on the general cleanness of the collected colostrum.
•    Second quality check is a visual check on the general cleanness of the colostrum.

 

The transportation of the colostrum from the dairy farm to the company is completed in the company’s vans with documented temperature during the transport. At the company, the colostrum is stored frozen in our freezing facilities, directly beside our dairy facilities.

 

In the freezing facility

When the buckets is placed in our freezing facilities the third quality test of the colostrum is performed. Each bucket is tested separately and all buckets are marked to defend the traceability. First, the colostrum are inspected visually to secure that no foreign matter is present, such as hay straws or like. If any foreign matter is present the whole content of the bucket is discarded. Afterwards, each bucket is tested for the quality of their contents.
• Third quality test is performed on each bucket with collected colostrum and includes a test for:
o    Visual inspection for foreign matters
o    Bacteriological contamination
o    Antibiotic residues
o    IgG-concentration

 

If any bacteria or antibiotic residues is detected, all colostrum in the specific bucket is discarded. The test for IgG-concentration is used as a measure of the quality and amount of bioactivity in the colostrum. A strong positive correlation exists between IgG-concentration and other bioactive components in unpasteurized bovine colostrum. The higher the IgG-concentration, the higher the quality of the colostrum. After the quality tests, the remaining colostrum is stored in the freezer until it is used for production. The program is approved by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration as quality control and sampling by the authorities is fulfilled with the results published subsequently.

 

Production of bovine colostrum powder

Before the production of bovine colostrum powder, the collected colostrum from the freezing facility is lumped into one batch in order to secure homogeneity in the final product. The production process consist of three steps conducted in a sterile environment:
1.    Thawing and crushing of the frozen colostrum
2.    Pasteurization of the liquid colostrum
3.    Low-temperature spray drying

 

It is important to keep the temperature and time as low as possible, in order to maintain as much bioactivity as possible. We have worked with production of bovine colostrum products for more than 25 years, and have developed a specialized extra gentle method to pasteurize and spray dry the colostrum in order to maintain an intact milk matrix in the colostrum. The whole process from frozen colostrum to the final powder is carried out quickly, and the temperature is constantly kept very low, except during the pasteurization where the temperature meets official criteria.

 

The colostrum powder is the final product, but before packaging, the fourth quality check is performed to test and secure the quality of the powder. Powder that does not pass this quality check is discarded.
•    Fourth quality test is performed to secure the quality of the powder an includes a test for:
o    Solubility of powder and flow availability
o    Organoleptic test for flavor, color and smell
o    Microbial load
o    Antibiotic residues
o    IgG-content

 

Edited & Share by -Dr Nirbhay Kumar Singh , Department of veterinary Anatomy
Bihar veterinary college
Razabazar
Patna
Pin-800014
Mo no-9835889642

Reference-On Request