Colostrum

Colostrum, also known as first milk, is a mammary secretion produced by cows and related animals. The results of supplementation are similar to supplementing whey protein, though colostrum may offer some unique benefits for the immune and digestive systems.

Quick Answer

What it is

Colostrum, also known as first milk, is a mammary secretion produced by cows and related animals. The results of supplementation are similar to supplementing whey protein, though colostrum may offer some unique benefits for the immune and digestive systems.

Key findings

  • Grade B: CD4 Lymphocytes (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV))
  • Grade C: Abdominal Pain (Traveler's Diarrhea)
  • Grade C: Blood glucose (High Cholesterol)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Colostrum

Quick Facts: Colostrum

  • Best Evidence:Grade A
  • Conditions Studied:21
  • Research Outcomes:170
  • Grade B Findings:1
  • Key Effect:Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B1
C5
D13
21 conditions Β· 170 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
CD4 Lymphocytes
Small Increase
small↑Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Fecal Weight
1 study
↓Improves
?
Hemoglobin
↑Improves
?
HIV Viral Load
1 study
↑Improves
C
Abdominal Pain
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Intestinal Parasites
↑Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Ketone Bodies
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Ketone Bodies
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
C
Muscle Mass
Small Improvement
small↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Muscle Mass
Small Improvement
small↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Power Output
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
↓Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
Lactate Threshold
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Anaerobic Capacity
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Intestinal Permeability
↑Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
?
Ventilatory Threshold
1 study
↑Improves
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
2 studies
none
D
B Cell Count
No effect
1 study
none
?
Immunoglobulin A
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin G
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin M
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
2 studies
↓Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Content
↑Improves
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Vaccine Augmentation
2 studies
↑Improves
?
CD4 Lymphocytes
↑Improves
?
CD8 Lymphocytes
1 study
↑Improves
?
Diarrhea Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression
↑Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Growth Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Immunity
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin E
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interferon Gamma
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 1-alpha
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 8
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Intestinal Parasites
↑Improves
?
Lymphocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Macrophage Activity
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
↑Improves
?
T Cell Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
1 study
↑Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Power Output
5 studies
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Anaerobic Capacity
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Body Fat
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
2 studies
↑Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
↓Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin E
1 study
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin G
1 study
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin M
↑Improves
?
Interferon Gamma
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 1-alpha
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 8
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Lactate Threshold
1 study
↑Improves
?
Lymphocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Muscle protein synthesis (MPS)
↑Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
Power Output
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Anaerobic Capacity
1 study
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
↓Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
1 study
↓Improves
?
Monocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Activity
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
↓Improves
?
Ventilatory Threshold
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
1 study
↑Improves
D
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
No effect
1 study
none
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
↑Improves
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Immunoglobulin G
1 study
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin M
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Power Output
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
D
Body Temperature
No effect
1 study
none
?
Intestinal Permeability
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Ghrelin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Testosterone
↑Improves
?
Cortisol
1 study
↓Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood Acidity
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Hemoglobin
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
↓Improves
?
IGF-1
↑Improves
?
Lactate Threshold
1 study
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Heart Rate
↓Improves
?
Intestinal Permeability
↑Improves
?
Lactate Threshold
1 study
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Power Output
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Intestinal Permeability
↑Improves
?
Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms
↓Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

AHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
2
↑CD4 LymphocytesImproves↓Diarrhea SymptomsImproves↓Fatigue SymptomsImproves
CTraveler's Diarrhea
1
↓Abdominal PainImproves↓Diarrhea SymptomsImproves↑Intestinal ParasitesImproves
CHigh Cholesterol
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Ketone BodiesImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves
CType 2 Diabetes
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Ketone BodiesImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves
CShort Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
1
↑Muscle MassImproves↓WeightImproves
CWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
↑Muscle MassImproves↓WeightImproves
DImmune Health
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)B Cell Count↑Immunoglobulin AImproves
DGeneral Athletic Performance
1
Aerobic Exercise Metrics↑Power OutputImproves↓WeightImproves
DAerobic Exercise Performance
1
Aerobic Exercise Metrics↑Oxygen UptakeImproves↓WeightImproves
DCycling Performance
1
Aerobic Exercise Metrics↑Oxygen UptakeImproves↑Power OutputImproves
DUpper Respiratory Tract Infection
1
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)↓Upper Respiratory Tract Infection SymptomsImproves↑Immunoglobulin AImproves
DBody Composition
1
Anaerobic Capacity↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves
DGeneral Gut Health
1
Body Temperature↑Intestinal PermeabilityImproves↑Oxygen UptakeImproves
DMetabolic Health
1
Anaerobic Capacity↑TestosteroneImproves↓CortisolImproves
DRowing Performance
1
Anaerobic Capacity↑Blood AcidityWorsens↑HemoglobinImproves
DMuscle Recovery
1
Aerobic Exercise Metrics↑Blood Lactate (Exercise)Worsens↑Fat OxidationImproves
DRunners' Health
1
Aerobic Exercise Metrics↓Heart RateImproves↑Intestinal PermeabilityImproves
DRunning Performance
1
Anaerobic Capacity↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves
DSore Throat
1
↓Upper Respiratory Tract Infection SymptomsImproves

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