Colostrum Research

• Bovine Colostrum Protects Children Against the Rotavirus
• Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage
• Study Shows Bovine Colostrum Helps Alzheimer's Patients
• Bovine Colostrum Improves Athletic Performance

Passive immunisation of children with bovine colostrum containing antibodies to human rotavirus.

Davidson GP, Whyte PB, Daniels E, Franklin K, Nunan H, McCloud PI, Moore AG, Moore DJ.

Gastroenterology Unit, Adelaide Medical Centre for Women and Children, South Australia.

The efficacy of a 10-day course of bovine colostrum with high antibody titre against the four known human rotavirus serotypes in protecting children against rotavirus infection was examined in patients admitted to hospital. Children aged 3 to 15 months were blocked in pairs according to ward accommodation (ie, isolation or open area). Each block contained 1 treated and 1 control child. The allocation to treatment or control (an artificial infant formula) was randomised. 9 of 65 control children but none of 55 treated children acquired rotavirus infection during the treatment period (p less than 0.001). The importance of protecting against rotavirus infection was highlighted by the fact that parents of symptomatic rotavirus-positive children sought medical attention seven times more often than did parents of symptomatic rotavirus-negative children (p less than 0.05).

PIP: One of the main reasons for hospital admission of infants and young children is infectious diarrhea usually caused by a rotavirus infection. Infants can also acquire rotavirus in hospital neonatal and pediatric wards; the infection can also be transmitted to adult members of the family. The most protection against rotavirus is the presence of an antibody in the lumen of the small intestine. However, both adults and children can be immunized against rotavirus through the ingestion of an antibody containing a modified rotavirus. A study was conducted on 120 children, aged 3 - 15 months. The aim of the study was to produce a preparation of bovine colostrum with a high antibody titre against the 4 known human rotavirus. 65 of the children were placed in a control group, while the remaining 55 were placed in a treatment group. A colostrum was produced by introducing a vaccine containing all 4 human rotavirus into 25 pregnant Freisian cows. The colostrum was then administered to the children, orally. Stool specimens were collected before admission, during the study and after discharge. The result of the study are as follows: 14% of the control group (9 of 65) acquired rotavirus during the study; 8 of the 9 patients probably acquired the infection on admission to the hospital. None of the treatment group were infected.

Playford RJ, Floyd DN, Macdonald CE, Calnan DP, Adenekan RO, Johnson W, Goodlad RA, Marchbank T.

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

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.

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