Are Colostrum Supplements Worth a Try? Here's What Dietitians Say

Key Takeaways

How off-base can 2,000 4-star reviews be? This is the sort of question you might ask yourself if you’re thinking about trying a colostrum supplement, the latest nutritional trend linked to everything from immune support to better hair.

A better question to ask yourself: Whatiscolostrum? If you’ve never heard of it, you might be caught off guard.

What Is Colostrum?

Some compounds found in colostrum include lactoferrin, lymphocytes, leukocytes, interleukins, growth factors, fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

In an effort to package up these benefits for adults, manufacturers have introduced colostrum supplements. Most colostrum supplements on the market are sourced from bovine (cow) colostrum, but they can be sourced from other mammalian milk as well.

“Human colostrum and bovine colostrum are actually very similar in their properties, and their nutritional composition is comparable as well,”Meghan McMillin, RD, IBCLC, a registered dietitian and lactation consultant, told Verywell. “They both contain high amounts of immunoglobulins,” which are antibodies that help the body identify and neutralize foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.

Colostrum supplements are available in various forms, including capsules, powders, and liquid extracts. Their price can vary widely depending on factors such as product concentration, brand, sourcing quality, and the processing method used. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $50 for a supply that lasts about a month.

What Are Colostrum Supplements Supposed to Do?

Colostrum supplements tend to be marketed for the same benefits human colostrum offers to infants: immune support and gut health. In addition, some brands highlight improvements in skin, hair, nails, and even athletic recovery.

User reviews of popular colostrum brandARMRArange from reports of “glowing” skin to regular bowel movements.

Is There Proof?

Things get a little murky when it comes to data actually supporting these benefits. Research indicates that bovine colostrum intakecouldbe beneficial to the health of adult humans, but more robust evidence is required to support this. Most of the sample sizes are quite small.

Bovine colostrum may be particularly useful during cold and flu season, a meta-analysis published in theJournal of Functional Foodssuggests, thanks to the supplement’s link to fewer incidents of upper respiratory tract infection.This was based on data from 445 subjects from seven different trials, meaning the dosages used and the types of people involved are too inconsistent to draw conclusions from.

The authors of this study note that “well-designed, placebo-controlled, and randomized studies” are necessary both to confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of these supplements in humans, as well as to determine optimal dosing.

“Other research has suggested colostrum supplementation may help treat diarrhea,” Andrews said. In a 2020 randomized controlled trial, 160 children with diarrhea who received a bovine colostrum supplement had significantly fewer symptoms after 48 hours, including a lower frequency of both vomiting and diarrhea.

There’s Likely No Harm in Trying

Based on current research, taking bovine colostrum supplements appears to come with very little risk if you don’t have a dairy allergy, McMillin said. It just may also come with very little benefit. The processing techniques used to make the supplement, like dehydrating, may impact how well it actually works.

“These supplements are quite new and have no conclusive research to support their broad stroke health claims. The research we do have has been conducted with small sample sizes, and many products lack [independent] testing or any regulation at all,” registered dietitianCaroline Thomason, RD, told Verywell. She said she does not recommend these products.

“At the end of the day, there is no ‘magic supplement’ for your health, digestive issues, or immune system, despite the compelling claims colostrum supplement companies make,” Thomason added.

What This Means For YouTaking colostrum supplements comes with little risk. The question remains about whether taking them truly supports your health.

What This Means For You

Taking colostrum supplements comes with little risk. The question remains about whether taking them truly supports your health.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mehra R, Garhwal R, Sangwan K, et al.Insights into the research trends on bovine colostrum: beneficial health perspectives with special reference to manufacturing of functional foods and feed supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):659. doi:10.3390/nu14030659Hałasa M, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Jamioł-Milc D, Maciejewska-Markiewicz D, Skonieczna-Żydecka K.Bovine colostrum supplementation in prevention of upper respiratory tract infections – systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.J Funct Foods. 2022;99:105316. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105316Dziewiecka H, Buttar HS, Kasperska A, et al.A systematic review of the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on leaky gut syndrome in athletes: diagnostic biomarkers and future directions.Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2512. doi:10.3390/nu14122512Barakat SH, Meheissen MA, Omar OM, Elbana DA.Bovine colostrum in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.J Trop Pediatr. 2020 Feb 1;66(1):46-55. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmz029

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mehra R, Garhwal R, Sangwan K, et al.Insights into the research trends on bovine colostrum: beneficial health perspectives with special reference to manufacturing of functional foods and feed supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):659. doi:10.3390/nu14030659Hałasa M, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Jamioł-Milc D, Maciejewska-Markiewicz D, Skonieczna-Żydecka K.Bovine colostrum supplementation in prevention of upper respiratory tract infections – systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.J Funct Foods. 2022;99:105316. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105316Dziewiecka H, Buttar HS, Kasperska A, et al.A systematic review of the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on leaky gut syndrome in athletes: diagnostic biomarkers and future directions.Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2512. doi:10.3390/nu14122512Barakat SH, Meheissen MA, Omar OM, Elbana DA.Bovine colostrum in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.J Trop Pediatr. 2020 Feb 1;66(1):46-55. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmz029

Mehra R, Garhwal R, Sangwan K, et al.Insights into the research trends on bovine colostrum: beneficial health perspectives with special reference to manufacturing of functional foods and feed supplements.Nutrients. 2022;14(3):659. doi:10.3390/nu14030659Hałasa M, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Jamioł-Milc D, Maciejewska-Markiewicz D, Skonieczna-Żydecka K.Bovine colostrum supplementation in prevention of upper respiratory tract infections – systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.J Funct Foods. 2022;99:105316. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105316Dziewiecka H, Buttar HS, Kasperska A, et al.A systematic review of the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on leaky gut syndrome in athletes: diagnostic biomarkers and future directions.Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2512. doi:10.3390/nu14122512Barakat SH, Meheissen MA, Omar OM, Elbana DA.Bovine colostrum in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.J Trop Pediatr. 2020 Feb 1;66(1):46-55. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmz029

Hałasa M, Baśkiewicz-Hałasa M, Jamioł-Milc D, Maciejewska-Markiewicz D, Skonieczna-Żydecka K.Bovine colostrum supplementation in prevention of upper respiratory tract infections – systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.J Funct Foods. 2022;99:105316. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105316

Dziewiecka H, Buttar HS, Kasperska A, et al.A systematic review of the influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on leaky gut syndrome in athletes: diagnostic biomarkers and future directions.Nutrients. 2022;14(12):2512. doi:10.3390/nu14122512

Barakat SH, Meheissen MA, Omar OM, Elbana DA.Bovine colostrum in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.J Trop Pediatr. 2020 Feb 1;66(1):46-55. doi:10.1093/tropej/fmz029

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Key Takeaways#

What Is Colostrum?#

What Are Colostrum Supplements Supposed to Do?#

Is There Proof?#

There’s Likely No Harm in Trying#

What This Means For You#