Colostrum is generally sourced from bovine. It is the pre-milk fluid produced from cow mammary glands during the first two to four days after birth.
Information from websites suggests that bovine colostrum may affect the brain’s mood-regulating chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. It has been possible to consider it a CNS agent and combined use with other agents that affect the CNS may have additive or contradictory effects.
Assertions that colostrum consumption is of human benefit are questionable because most ingredients undergo digestion in the adult stomach, including antibodies and all other proteins. The strongest evidence in support of using bovine colostrum is for exercise performance enhancement and gastrointestinal injury due to bowel disease and medication (NSAIDs). However, high quality studies in humans are currently lacking, and no firm recommendations can be made in these areas with respect to mood. One human study is available relating colostrum to cognitive functions and Alzheimer’s disease (Bilikiewicz & Gaus, 2004). In the study, 100µg colostrinin was given to 105 patients on alternate days for three weeks followed by two weeks of a drug-free period or a placebo treatment. The cycle was repeated three times for 15 weeks in total, then a second 15 week phase where all patients received colostrinin. Scores on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale- cognitive portion were significantly improved following treatment with colostrinin. There was no report on any mood effects.
Reference
Bilikiewicz, A. Gaus, W. (2004) Colostrinin (a naturally occurring, proline-rich, polypeptide mixture) in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. J. Alzheimers Dis. 6(1) pp. 17-26
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