Bovine colostrum demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity in in vitro models of intestinal inflammation and infection

A Review: The Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Immunity in People of All Ages

Bovine colostrum provides newborn calves with strong passive immunity, which will further affect the immunity of their offspring. Compared with other commercial dairy products, bovine colostrum emphasizes the limit of aflatoxin M1, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms, antibiotics, stimulants, and other items, so it is safe to use. There are many reports that the use of bovine colostrum as a breast milk fortifier for preterm infants provides necessary immune support for premature infants, but the selection of bovine colostrum products chosen must be free of Bacillus cereus because they are very dangerous for premature infants. This also emphasizes that for the bovine colostrum that is used in preterm infants, more clinical research support is needed. At the same time, it should also be emphasized that the composition of BC is different from that of human colostrum, in particular, the main protein of BC is casein, while the main protein in breast milk is whey protein, especially α-lactalbumin, which together with ovalbumin is still the reference protein with the best biological value, especially for muscles. Therefore, bovine colostrum is currently not a complete substitute for breast milk. In recent years, in addition to reports of bovine colostrum use in preterm infants, studies have also found that bovine colostrum has immunomodulatory and promoting effects in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. This suggests that bovine colostrum has the potential to provide appropriate immune support for people of all ages. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of nutritional characteristics of bovine colostrum on three dimensions. The effects of bovine colostrum on people of all ages is a narrative review of the effects of bovine colostrum on immunity in people of all ages. This review identified several classes of immunoactive substances in bovine colostrum, including immunoglobulins, cytokines, and enzymes, and compared the nutritional composition of bovine colostrum with mature milk, colostrum and mature milk in full-term breast milk, and colostrum and mature milk in preterm breast milk, to demonstrate that bovine colostrum provides a rich range of immunoactive components. In addition, the influencing factors affecting the quality of bovine colostrum (immunoglobulin) were reviewed, and it was found that individual differences, environmental factors, and processing methods had a great impact on the quality of BC. More importantly, the immunomodulatory effects of bovine colostrum in people of all ages were reviewed in detail (with an emphasis on preterm infants and immunocompromised children in neonates) as evidence to support the immunity effects of colostrum in people of all ages. This review hopes to use the above evidence to make people understand the health role of bovine colostrum as having a human immunomodulatory effect, and at the same time, when seeing the potential value of bovine colostrum in the future, the limitations of its application should also be deeply re-explored, such as lactose intolerance, allergies, etc., to provide effective solutions for the wide application of bovine colostrum.

Exploring the impact of colostrum supplementation on athletes: a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials and diverse properties

Colostrum, an invaluable food produced by mammals during the postnatal period, contains important bioactive components. It is a valuable therapeutic substance that can be used to treat a variety of disorders, in addition to its primary function of providing passive immunity to newborns. Undoubtedly, a strong dedication to intense effort and demanding training schedules is necessary to succeed in today's sports environment. Peak physical fitness, strategic skill development, and mental toughness are highly valued in the environments in which athletes compete. However, the inherent difficulties brought about by athletes' intense schedules are matched with the demanding character of modern sports. The intensity of athletic activity frequently provides little time for sufficient relaxation, nutritional preparation, and overall recovery, which can contribute to mental and physical tiredness. Athletes need to develop all-encompassing strategies to overcome these obstacles. These strategies should prioritize self-care and recovery in addition to maximizing training efficiency. The bioactive components of colostrum bring forth various therapeutic effects against the challenges experienced by athletes; including diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, muscle injuries, intestinal disorders, etc. This review examined the different therapeutic effects of the bioactive components of colostrum on athletes, the effect of the use of colostrum as a whole on the performance of athletes, and the clinical research conducted in this field. While the majority of studies report positive effects of colostrum, further research is needed.

Evaluation of the differences in proteomics of high-quality bovine colostrum and low-quality bovine colostrum

BACKGROUND

Although there are studies on colostrum and milk proteomics of different species in the literature, there is no published report about different quality bovine colostrums' proteomics.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the proteome content of high- and low-quality bovine colostrums for the first time.

METHODS

Colostrum samples were collected from 32 Holstein cows from the same farm that had just calved. Brix% levels of colostrums were measured, and then, those with a Brix% value of ≥27% were classified as high-quality and those with a Brix% value of <22% as low-quality. Three samples from high-quality and low-quality colostrums were selected and proteomic analyses were performed by pooling separately.

RESULTS

Totally 95 proteins were identified in the colostrums, and 19 of them showed significant changes between high- and low-quality colostrums. Expressions in colostrum of glycosylation-dependent cell adhesion molecule-1, cofilin-1, alpha-S2-casein, alpha-lactalbumin, alpha-1B-glycoprotein, actin_cytoplasmic-1, nucleobindin-1, cathelicidin-4, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4, chitinase-3-like protein 1 and monocyte differentiation antigen CD14 were lower, whereas tetranectin, secreted frizzled-related protein-1 (SFRP1), perilipin-2, coatomer subunit epsilon (COPE), butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A1, polyubiquitin-B, lactadherin and albumin levels were higher in high-quality colostrum than low-quality colostrum. Moreover, SFRP1, COPE and cathelicidin-4 proteins were identified for the first time in bovine colostrum. In high-quality colostrum, the most prominently down-regulated proteins were cathelicidin-4 (26.01-fold) and cofilin-1 (17.42-fold), and the most prominently up-regulated proteins were COPE (3.37-fold) and tetranectin (3.07-fold).

CONCLUSIONS

It was detected that the proteome contents of high- and low-quality bovine colostrums were different from each other. As new functions are added to the protein databases regarding these proteins detected in colostrums, the interactions of proteins with each other and with other molecules will be detailed and the effects of high-quality colostrums on passive transfer immunity and calf health will be understood in full detail.

"In vitro antimicrobial and synergistic effect of fermented Indian zebu (Sahiwal) cow colostrum whey derived peptides with Lactobacillus rhamnosus against pathogenic bacteria"

Bioactive peptides (BAPs) have been found to promote health through various mechanisms. Among them, antimicrobial peptides are gaining recognition as promising novel treatments. This study aims to generate BAPs from bovine colostrum whey using the proteolytic activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus C25 and to evaluate their potential antibacterial efficacy, including their ability to synergistic efficacy against resistant bacteria. Bioactive peptides were successfully generated from lactobacillus culture proteases that were cultivated through batch fermentation. The resulting peptide fractions were then evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy against a selection of strains, including E. coli ATCC25922, S. aureus MTCC1144, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978, as well as clinically isolated resistant strains of E. coli (ESBL 1384), Acinetobacter 1379, and S. aureus (MRSA 1418). Notably, the peptide fractions with a molecular weight of < 10 kDa (0-10 kDa) significantly increased the membrane permeability of both E. coli (70.30 ± 0.41%) and S. aureus (63.04 ± 0.31%) as assessed by the crystal violet assay. The checkerboard method was utilized to perform synergistic tests with peptides and antibiotics. The peptide fractions with a molecular weight of (< 10 kDa) demonstrated synergistic effects with several antibiotics, including gentamycin, Rifampicin, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Chloramphenicol, against the resistant ESBL 1384 strain, as indicated by ΣFICI values of 0.55, 0.53, 0.52, 0.54, and 0.52, respectively. Furthermore, the HT-29 cell line remained completely unaffected by both peptide fractions. These findings suggest that the < 10 kDa peptide fraction possesses significant antibacterial efficacy against both reference and ESBL 1384 resistant bacterial strain. Additionally, both MRSA 1418 and Acinetobacter 1379 displayed resistance to all fractions tested. To summarize the findings of this study, colostrum whey peptides with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity can be efficiently produced through fermentation. This method could prove valuable for both the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05776-2.

Insights into the Research Trends on Bovine Colostrum: Beneficial Health Perspectives with Special Reference to Manufacturing of Functional Foods and Feed Supplements

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the initial mammary secretion after parturition, which is nature’s bountiful source consisting of nutritional and bioactive components present in a highly concentrated low-volume format. All mammalian newborns require colostrum to enhance physiological processes such as lifelong immunity, gastrointestinal development, and resistance to microbial infections. The genetic, environmental, and processing methods can all have an impact on the biochemical contents of BC and its supplements. BC and its derivatives have been intensively researched for their potential use in functional foods, medicines, and animal feed. Evidence from clinical studies suggests that BC products are well-tolerated, nontoxic, and safe for human ingestion. Functional foods, feed, and pharmaceutical formulations based on bovine colostrum are playing noteworthy roles in the development of innovative products for promoting health and the prevention of chronic illnesses. This systematic review sheds light on recent research on (a) the effects of processing techniques on BC components, (b) emerging techniques used in the isolation and identification of novel components, (c) BC-based functional foods for human consumption and animal feed supplements, and (d) the role of BC in current drug delivery, as well as future recommendations.

Bioactive compounds, nutritional profile and health benefits of colostrum: a review

Bovine colostrum is defined as first milk by milching animals responsible for providing the innate immunity to the neonatal and possess many immunoglobulins for preventing the calf from diseases. Colostrum consist of many bioactive compounds like proteins, enzymes, growth factors, immunoglobulins and nucleotides that provides several benefits to human health. Numerous clinical and pre-clinical studies have demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of the bovine colostrum. This review focusses on bioactive compounds, their health benefits, potential of colostrum for developing several health foods and prevention of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Processing can also be done to extend shelf-life and extraction of bioactive constituents either as encapsulated or as extracts. The products derived from bovine colostrum are high-end supplements possessing high nutraceutical value.

Pharmacological activities and potential use of bovine colostrum for peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals: A review

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the initial milk produced by cows after giving birth. It has been used to treat human diseases, such as infections, inflammations, and cancers. Accumulating evidence suggests that bovine lactoferrin and bovine antibodies seem to be the most important bioactive constituents in BC. Thus, BC has also been reviewed for its potential to deliver short-term protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In addition, it can potentially be explored as a precursor for peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals. To date, several bioactive peptides have been isolated from BC, including casocidin-1, casecidin 15 and 17, isracidin, caseicin A, B, and C. Like other peptides, bioactive peptides derived from BC could be used as a valuable precursor for radiopharmaceuticals either for diagnosis or therapy purposes. This review provides bovine colostrum’s biological activities and a perspective on the potential use of peptides from BC for developing radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine.

Therapeutic Applications of Human and Bovine Colostrum in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases and Distinctive Cancer Types: The Current Evidence

The incidence of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) and cancers is escalating all over the world. Limited consumption of colostrum by newborns not only weakens the immune system but also predisposes infants to microbial infections. Colostrum is nature's perfect food, sometimes referred to as the 'elixir of life'. Breast-fed infants have a lower incidence of GI tract infections than infants fed formula or cow's milk. As per WHO statistics, cancer is the most prevalent disease globally and causes 9.6 million deaths worldwide. The current strategies for treating cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, chemotherapy and radiation exposure are usually associated with serious long-term side effects and deterioration in the quality of life (QOL) of patients. Furthermore, the hospitalization and medication costs for treating cancers are exorbitant and impose high economic burden on healthcare systems. People are desperately looking for cost-effective and affordable alternative therapies for treating GID and cancers. Therefore, there is an urgent need for clinically evaluating the anticancer compounds isolated from plants and animals. Such therapies would not only be economical and have fewer side effects, but also help to improve the QOL of cancer patients. Recently, bovine colostrum (BC) has caught the attention of many investigators to explore its anticancer potential in humans. BC impregnated dressings are highly effective in treating chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcer. BC is rich in lactoferrin, a glycoprotein with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. Intravaginal application of BC tablets is effective in causing the regression of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The underlying mechanisms of BC at cellular, genetic, and molecular levels remain to be ascertained. Oral BC supplement is well-tolerated, but some people may experience problems such as flatulence and nausea. Well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials are needed to access the therapeutic potential, long-term safety, and optimal doses of BC products. This review is aimed to highlight the anticancer potential of BC and its components, and the therapeutic applications of BC supplements in treating gastrointestinal diseases in children and adults. We also discuss the health promotion benefits and therapeutic potential of BC nutraceuticals in reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases.

Fermented, ultrasonicated, and dehydrated bovine colostrum: Changes in antimicrobial properties and immunoglobulin content

This study evaluated the influence of fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum LUHS135 and Lactobacillus paracasei LUHS244, ultrasonication, and different methods of dehydration on the content of IgG, IgA, and IgM in bovine colostrum (BC), as well as the antimicrobial activity of the treated and fresh BC samples [fresh = BC; freeze dried = BC_lyoph; vacuum dried (+45°C) = BC_vacdried; BC fermented with LUHS135 = BC_LUHS135; BC fermented with LUHS244 = BC_LUHS244; BC fermented with LUHS135 and freeze dried = BC_LUHS135lyoph; BC fermented with LUHS244 and freeze dried = BC_{LUHS244 lyoph}; BC fermented with LUHS135 and vacuum dried = BC_{LUHS135 vacdried}; BC fermented with LUHS244 and vacuum dried = BC_{LUHS244 vacdried}; BC ultrasonicated and freeze dried = BC_{ultr lyoph}; BC ultrasonicated and vacuum dried = BC_{ultr vacdried}]. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanni, Proteus mirabilis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus mutans, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Pasteurella multocida using the agar well diffusion method, as well as in liquid medium. In liquid medium analysis showed that the fermented BC samples had the broadest antimicrobial spectrum (of 15 tested pathogenic strains, BC_{LUHS135 vacdried} and BC_LUHS135lyoph inhibited 13; BC_{LUHS244 vacdried} inhibited 12; and BC_LUHS135, BC_LUHS244, and BC_{LUHS244 lyoph} inhibited 11). Based on the inhibition zones, BC_LUHS135lyoph samples exhibited the broadest inhibition spectrum, inhibiting the growth of 12 of the 15 tested pathogenic strains). According to the lactic acid bacteria strain selected for BC fermentation, different properties of the BC will be obtained. To ensure a broad antimicrobial spectrum and high IgG content, fermentation with LUHS135 can be recommended (IgG concentration in BC_LUHS135 was retained), whereas fermentation with LUHS244 will provide a high IgM concentration (IgM concentration increased by 48.8 and 21.6% in BC_LUHS244 and BC_LUHS244lyoph samples, respectively). However, IgA is very sensitive for fermentation, and further studies are needed to increase IgA stability in BC. Finally, fermented BC can be recommended as a food/beverage ingredient, providing safety, as well as improved functionality through displaying a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities.

Impact of timing of breastfeeding initiation on neonatal mortality in India

Background

Neonatal mortality defined as a death during the first 28 days of life and is the most critical phase of child survival. In spite of the strong evidence supporting immediate and long term health benefits of timely initiation of breastfeeding in India, only two-fifths (44%) of children receive breastfeeding within 1 h of birth. This study aims to examine the role of a behavioral factor i.e., timing of initiation of breastfeeding on neonatal deaths.

Methods

Data from India Human Development Survey-II (IHDS-II), 2011–12, a nationally representative, large scale population-based dataset has been used. Sample Registration System (SRS) has been used to examine the rate of change in Neonatal Mortality Rates from the year 2011 to 2015. District Level Household & Facility Survey (DLHS-4), 2012–2013 and Annual Health Survey(AHS), 2012–13 data have been used to show the district wise distribution of women who have breastfed their child within 1 h of birth. Population Attributable fraction has been computed using binary logistic regression model for various scenarios of breastfeeding within first hour of birth.

Results

Less than one fourth (21%) of children were breastfed within 1 h of birth across the different districts of India, which varies from the lowest 15% in Sarasvati of Uttar Pradesh state to the highest 94.6% in Thiruvananthapuram of Kerala state. Findings suggest when women did not breastfeed their newborn within the 1 h after his birth, the odds of neonatal deaths were increased by nearly threefold (OR 2.93; 95% CI 1.89, 4.53) in comparison with those neonates who have breastfed within 1 h of birth. Population Attributable Risk estimates that the risk of the neonatal deaths could be reduced to a maximum of 15% when all babies would expose to early breastfeeding from the present level of breastfeeding.

Conclusions

We found that timely initiation of breastfeeding is beneficial for child survival within the first 28 days of birth, including all causes of mortality. Therefore, efforts in formulating an effective policy focusing on early initiation of breastfeeding are needed.

An analysis of the effects of intrapartum factors, neonatal characteristics, and skin-to-skin contact on early breastfeeding initiation

This study aims to determine relationships between intrapartum factors, neonatal characteristics, skin-to-skin contact (SSC), and early breastfeeding initiation after spontaneous vaginal and Caesarean section or operative vaginal birth. A total of 915 mother-newborn dyads were considered in a hypothetical model based on integrated concepts of breastfeeding initiation model, infant learning framework, and attachment theory. Multiple-group path analysis was used to determine whether differences exist between effects of immediate SSC (≤30 min) on early breastfeeding initiation in different modes of birth. SSC, mode of birth, labour duration, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were significantly associated with early breastfeeding initiation, as indicated by the path analysis model, which included all samples. Women with immediate SSC were more likely to initiate early breastfeeding in different modes of birth. In the spontaneous vaginal birth group, women showed a lower likelihood of initiating early breastfeeding when their neonates were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and presented an Apgar score of <7 at 1 min. Multiple-group analysis showed no significant difference between effects of immediate SSC on early breastfeeding initiation in different modes of birth (critical ratio = -0.309). Results showed that models satisfactorily fitted the data (minimum discrepancy divided by degrees of freedom = 1.466-1.943, goodness of fit index = 0.981-0.986, comparative fit index = 0.947-0.955, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.023-0.032). Our findings emphasize the crucial importance of prioritizing promotion of immediate SSC under different modes of birth.