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Moderate Dose Bovine Colostrum Supplementation in Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Medical
Magdalena Baśkiewicz-Hałasa1, Ewa Stachowska2, Elżbieta Grochans3
1Department of General Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
Insights
Bovine colostrum (COL) supplementation significantly reduced upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in at-risk young adults. This finding suggests COL can bolster defenses against URTI in populations facing high infectious exposure.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Athletes demonstrate reduced upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) with colostrum supplementation.
- Young adults, particularly medical students, face increased URTI risk due to demanding workloads and exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of bovine colostrum (COL) against URTIs in at-risk young adults, specifically medical (MED) and health science (HSci) students.
- To assess the impact of COL supplementation on URTI symptom frequency, severity, and overall well-being.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 107 days of supplementation with bovine colostrum (COL) or placebo (PBO).
- Participants (MED and HSci students) received low-dose COL (0.5-1.0 g/day) in two phases.
- Daily online questionnaires monitored URTI symptoms, well-being, and gastrointestinal side-effects.
Main Results:
- Colostrum supplementation led to a significant decrease in the frequency of symptomatic URTI days compared to placebo in both MED and HSci groups.
- The severity of URTI symptoms was also significantly reduced in the COL group.
- General well-being perception improved significantly with COL supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Bovine colostrum supplementation offers significant protection against URTIs in young adults at higher risk due to heavy workloads and increased infectious agent exposure.
- While healthy young individuals possess natural defenses, COL can provide additional support to mitigate URTI incidence and severity.
- The findings support the use of colostrum as a supportive measure for populations with elevated URTI risk.
Abstract:
Colostrum supplementation has been confirmed to protect from upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in athletes. Our trial was designed to find out whether other young adults who have potentially been exposed to increased risk of developing URTIs can also benefit. Homogenous population of medical (MED) students (at risk) and health science (HSci) peers were supplemented with a relatively low dose (0.5-1.0 g/day) of bovine colostrum (COL) or placebo (PBO) over 45 days and then once again over 7 days starting at day 87. The trial lasted 107 days. Subjects were monitored solely by them filling out online daily questionnaires containing questions about frequency and severity of URTIs symptoms, well-being, and potential gastrointestinal side-effects. A significant level of protection from URTIs was observed as expressed by dropping frequency of symptomatic days in COL vs. PBO group among MED vs. HSci students. The same effect was also recorded for severity of symptoms, as well as general well-being perception. Overall, it can be concluded that although young healthy people seem to have sufficient defenses from URTIs, COL supplementation can provide significant support in such protection among those at higher infectious risk because of exposure to a heavy workload and increased contact with infectious agents.
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