Colostrum as a Supplement: Bogus or Legit?
Colostrum supplements claim big benefits—but do they deliver?
It’s not every day you find yourself writing about whether cow birth milk has health benefits for humans, but the wellness world always has something new up its sleeve. 🙃 Let’s chat bovine colostrum supplements, shall we?
Wait, What’s Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first milk produced right after delivery. It’s packed with bioactive compounds to jumpstart a newborn’s immune system and gut.
But the commercial supplements come from cows—they’re usually collected within 24-48 hours after calving. (My first thought here is that unless you’re a baby cow, you should not be consuming cow colostrum, but I digress.)
Why Bovine Colostrum Specifically?
Why not use human colostrum? Because it’d be both ethically questionable and logistically impossible. Human colostrum is produced in tiny amounts and is essential for newborns.
Enter: bovine colostrum. Cows produce it in large quantities, and it's structurally similar enough to human colostrum to (potentially) provide some immune and gut-supporting benefits. It’s also rich in antibodies (especially IgG), growth factors, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
But what does the actual research show?
The Bovine Colostrum Evidence
- Fewer Upper Respiratory Infections
A handful of small clinical trials suggest bovine colostrum reduces upper respiratory infections:
- A randomized control trial found that marathon runners taking bovine colostrum had fewer respiratory infections during training compared to placebo (Jones et al., 2016).
- A meta-analysis discovered that regular exercisers taking the supplement had 44% fewer days with respiratory symptoms and 38% fewer respiratory infection episodes compared to placebo (Jones et al., 2016).
On paper, it makes sense. Colostrum's high antibody content could neutralize pathogens at mucosal surfaces before they cause infection.
But whether this translates to real-world immune protection for everyday people remains open-ended.
- Improved Gut Health
Gut health is where colostrum gets most of its wellness buzz. Here’s what a few short-term studies found:
- A systematic review looked at 22 clinical trials, which showed that bovine colostrum reduced how often people had diarrhea (Hajihashemi et al., 2024).
- A randomized trial showed that the supplement could help reduce gastrointestinal issues and maintain a healthy gut barrier in athletes (Dziewiecka et al., 2022).
However! Most of these studies were short-term, used varied dosing, and lacked long-term safety data. More studies are needed.
- Metabolic and Anti-Aging Effects
Some animal studies suggest IGF-1 (which promotes the growth of tissue and bones) and TGF-β (which can help heal wounds) in colostrum might support muscle repair or influence glucose metabolism.
But that’s a far cry from proving benefits in humans. We need solid human trials showing clear metabolic or longevity benefits before we can back this up.
Is There Any Harm in Taking Bovine Colostrum?
Sure, the science might not be super compelling, but these supplements could be helpful. Is there any downside to just taking them anyway?
Generally, bovine colostrum supplements are safe. Some people report mild side effects like bloating or nausea, but they’re not serious. However, there’s one aspect that deserves closer attention: IGF-1.
Colostrum contains insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and elevated IGF-1 levels have been associated with increased risk of certain cancers in some studies.
While no direct causal links have been established, this is worth considering if you have a personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancers (like breast, prostate, or colorectal).
And, of course, there’s the usual supplement wild west problem. Because colostrum products aren’t regulated by the FDA, what’s on the label might not match what’s on the bottle, and quality can vary dramatically between brands.
My Bottom Line:
Bovine colostrum isn’t useless. But it’s not a miracle either.
- For healthy adults ➜ Limited proven benefit.
- For athletes under extreme training stress ➜ There's some evidence for gut protection and fewer respiratory infections during intense training periods.
- For people with specific GI disorders ➜ Possibly helpful, but discuss with a specialist.
- For anti-aging ➜ Save your money. There’s no meaningful evidence yet.
Here’s what I want you to remember: The fundamentals—basic nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress management—move the needle far more than any other powder you’ll find on the supplement aisle.
This question came directly from a member of the Ajenda community.
