Is colostrum safe?

Last updated on October 2, 2020

Question:

Is colostrum safe? Will it not affect me in any bad way?

Answer:

Colostrum is the first milk that is produced by a mother right after giving birth. It is thick, yellow, and sticky. Both humans and cows produce colostrum, so I don’t know which you are looking to purchase. Most likely it is bovine (cow) colostrum. Colostrum is high in carbohydrates and proteins, but low in fat. It contains a lot of antibodies, but realize that bovine antibodies are not suitable for the human body.

Bovine colostrum is claimed to be “used for boosting the immune system, healing injuries, repairing nervous system damage, improving mood and sense of well being, slowing and reversing aging, and as an agent for killing bacteria and fungus.” [“Bovine Colostrum,” WebMD]. Whether it actually works is not proven.

There is a form of bovine colostrum called hyperimmune bovine colostrum. It is made by injecting cows with certain diseases so that antibodies against those diseases are formed. It is used in treating people with severe diarrhea due to extreme circumstances such as AIDS.

“Due to the lack of science behind colostrum supplements, this remedy cannot currently be recommended for treatment or prevention of any condition. Little is known about the long-term effects of taking colostrum supplements” [“Colostrum Supplements,” About Health].

Bovine colostrum from a reputable source will not cause any harm. But whether it will benefit you is a question.