Colostrum-38 | BioStar US

Bovine Colostrum for Horses, Dogs, and People


Bovine colostrum is one of those versatile supplements that I always have on hand for the horses, the dogs, and myself. I first learned of it after the 2000 Summer Olympics, when it was revealed that the powerful Australian swim team was supplementing with bovine colostrum. What makes bovine colostrum so amazing is that it supports a range of biological activities: immune support, cellular repair, bone support, glucose tolerance, protection of GI tract tissue, and optimization of beneficial intestinal flora.

Immune System


Bovine Colostrum PowderColostrum is an immune system modulator. This means that it can stimulate the immune system if needed, or bring it back to homeostasis if it is overreacting—as in the case of allergies, hives, or unhealthy inflammatory response.

Colostrum provides a potent array of immune factors, including immunoglobulins, cytokines, interferon, lactoferrin, and proline-rich proteins (PRPs). Some of these specific proteins found in colostrum are part of the innate immune system, and provide important protection against harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

  • Immunoglobulins, or “antibodies,” are a critical part of the immune system response because they recognize and bind to antigens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and cancer cells. The immunoglobulins in colostrum contribute to its ability to kill dangerous bacteria including coli, salmonella, candida, streptococcus, staphylococcus and cryptosporidium, as well as rotavirus.
  • Lactoferrin is a protein that acts by binding free iron, which is needed by certain bacteria and fungi to reproduce. Lactoferrin can penetrate the cell walls of bacteria, causing them to burst.
  • Proline-rich proteins (PRPs) are able to regulate the thymus gland, the master gland of the immune system. PRPs can help bring the immune system back to homeostasis, or stimulate it to fight infections and diseases.
  • Transfer factors are immune system molecules that contain codes for immune recognition and balance.
  • Prebiotics in bovine colostrum enhance growth of the beneficial bifidobacteria that inhabit the small intestine and help to modulate immune response.

Tissue Repair and Injury Recovery

Bovine colostrum can help horses, dogs and humans recover more quickly from injuries by providing 70 different growth factors which can accelerate healing of damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) helps to stimulate collagen production, while fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epithelial growth factor (EGF) repair muscle fibers, tendons, and ligaments through regulation of cellular migration and proliferation. Transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha and TGF-beta) in colostrum stimulate the production and repair of RNA and DNA.

Bone Regeneration

Recent studies have shown that lactoferrin in bovine colostrum accelerated bone regeneration in bone defects. Lactoferrin activates the proliferation of osteoblasts (cells that synthesize bone) and inhibits apoptosis (cell death). Bovine colostrum can also promote calcium absorption, and a study published in Dairy Science & Technology (2009) showed that the acid proteins in bovine colostrum increased bone mineral density.

If your horse is currently on a protocol of Tildren or Osphos, bovine colostrum would be an excellent support food for bone support.

Metabolism

Various researchers have identified that bovine colostrum is loaded with metabolically activating nutrients including insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) (Kuipers H, Van reda E, Verlaan G, and Smeets R. 2002). This protein plays an integral role in endocrine regulation of metabolism, and helps to balance blood sugar in the body.

Gastrointestinal Tissue Protection

Components of bovine colostrum, including epithelial growth factors, can stimulate repair of intestinal membranes. The anti-inflammatory effect of alpha-lactalbumin reduces hyper-permeability associated with leaky gut and irritable bowel syndrome. Alpha-lactalbumin can boost levels of the important antioxidant glutathione. Deficiencies of this antioxidant are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases and ulcerative colitis (Playford RJ, et al. 2001). Other benefits of colostrum for the GI tract include healing of the damage and irritation done to the gut by NSAIDs (Playford RJ, et al. 1999).

Important Food for Athletes

Studies on human athletes have demonstrated the importance of bovine colostrum supplementation including a 20-percent increase in strength and stamina and shorter recovery time for soccer players and cyclists (Coombs JS, et al. 2002). A study from Finland highlighted that skiers taking colostrum experienced less fatigue and only half the level of blood creatine-kinase, which is a marker of muscle injury (Keech, A 2009).

active dog and horse | BioStar US

Both performance horses and dogs can benefit from bovine colostrum supplementation.

Performance and sport horses, as well as dogs that do agility, fly ball, and herding all can benefit from bovine colostrum supplementation.

Supportive Food

If your horse has been diagnosed with Lyme or EPM, bovine colostrum is an important support food that regulates the immune system, helps tissue repair, and supports the GI tract and intestinal membranes. Colostrum is an important supplement for horses and dogs with allergies, or those having an allergic reaction such as hives. Colostrum is excellent support for healing connective tissues like ligaments.

When Choosing Bovine Colostrum

Not all colostrum is alike. The standard of potency and ethics of collection varies widely. Bovine colostrum quality and effectiveness is measured by the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgGs). Most colostrum supplements are at 15 percent IgG, with the exception of colostrum for foals which is 40 percent IgG. BioStar’s Colostrum-38 is 38 percent IgG from grass-fed, r-BGH-free cows in Canada. You only need ½ -1 teaspoon per day to provide your horse with the powerful elements of colostrum because BioStar’s colostrum is so high in IgGs. Dogs need only 1/8- ¼ teaspoon per day.

Colostrum-38 EQ | BioStar US

Colostrum-38 EQ for Horses

Colostrum-38 K9 | BioStar US

Colostrum-38 K9 for Dogs

 

Tigger Montague | BioStar USAbout the Author: With over 30 years experience in the equine and human supplement industry, Tigger Montague knows nutrition from the synthetic side as well as the whole food side. She started BioStar US in 2006 with formulas she created in her kitchen. Before she started the company, she was an avid rider and competitor with eventing and show jumping, until she got hooked on dressage in the late 1980’s. She has competed on horses she’s owned and trained all the way from training level to Grand Prix.


References:

Bhora FY, Durkin BJ, Batzri S, et al. 1995. Effect of growth factors on cell proliferation and epithelialization in human skin. J Surg Res. Aug; 59 (2) 236-44.

Blake, Stephen DVM. July 1999. Bovine Colostrum the forgotten miracle. Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. Vol 18, number 2; 39-40

Britigan BE, et al. 1994. The role of lactoferrin as an anti-inflammatory molecule. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 357: 143-156

Buckley JD et al. 2002. Bovine colostrum supplementation during Endurance running training improves recovery. Journal of Science Medicine and Sport 5 (2); 65-79

Coombs JS, et al. 2002. Dose effects of oral bovine colostrum on physical work capacity in cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exercise 34 (7); 118

Du, Ming & Wang, Kejian & Wu, Chengtie & Zhang, Lanwei. (2009). Effects of bovine colostrum acid protein on bone loss and hemobiochemistry indexes in rats. Dairy and Science Technology. 89(5).

Gutterage J, Paterson S, Segal A, Halliwell B. 1981. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by the iron-binding protein lactoferrin. Biochem. Journal. 199: 259-261

Hofman Z, et al. 2002. The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in elite field hockey players. International Journal of Sports and Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 12 (4): 461-469

Keech, A. 2009. The Benefits of Colostrum Supplementation. Excerpts from Peptide Immunotherapy: Colostrum, A Physician’s Reference Guide. AKS Publishing; 1St Edition

Kuipers H, Van reda E, Verlaan G, and Smeets R. 2002. Effects of oral bovine colostrum supplementation on serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels. Nutrition. July; 18 (7-8): 566

Leppaluoto J, Rasi S, Martikkala M, et al. 2000. Bovine colostrum supplementation enhances physical performance on maximal exercise tests. Pre-Olympic Congress Sport Medicine and Physical Education. International Congress on Sport Science. Brisbane, Australia. Sept, 7-13.

Molloy T, et al. 2003. The roles of growth factors in tendon and ligament healing. Sports Med 33(5); 381-94

Peryman, LE, McGuire TC. 1980. Evaluation of Immune System Failures in Horses and Ponies. J. Am. Med. Assoc. June 15;176(12)’1374-7

Playford RJ, et al. 1999. Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage. Gut; May. 44 (5): 653-658

Playford RJ, et al. 2001. Co-administration of the health food supplement Bovine colostrum reduces the acute non steroidal anti inflammatory drug-induced increase in intestinal permeability. Clin Sci (London); 100 (6): 627-633

Sato K, et al. 2003. Improvement of muscle healing through enhancement of muscle regeneration and prevention of fibrosis. Muscle Nerve 28 (3): 365-94.

Stephan W, Diechtelmuller H, and Lissner R. 1990. Antibodies from colostrum in oral immunotherapy. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem. Jan; (28 (1):19-23

Wadey AL, Muyderman H, Perrin T, et al. May 2009. Mitochondrial Glutathione uptake: characterization in isolated brain mitochondria and astrocytes in culture. Journal of Neurochemistry, vol 109; 101-108

Ward PP, et al. 2002. Lactoferrin and host defense. Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 80 (1): 95-102

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2 Responses

  1. Victoria Parkin says:

    Can humans take your Colostrum-38 or do you have a another form for humans? I have been diagnosed with a dairy allergy to the milk protein whey and maybe other things in cows milk. (Was negative to casien and lactose). Do you think the proteins in this product would be a problem for me?
    Thank you,

    Vicky

    • BioStar says:

      Hi Vicky, Our Colostrum is human grade, so you could take it. It’s impossible for us to know whether the proteins would affect your specific allergies. Most reports say that colostrum is safe for people with dairy allergies, however you should use caution and/or ask your doctor. Thanks!