Bovine colostrum supplementation in rugby

Area of Science:

• Sports Science and Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Bovine colostrum, rich in bioactive compounds, is investigated for its potential to enhance athletic performance and immune function.
• Rugby union's high-intensity demands may increase athletes' susceptibility to infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of 8-week bovine colostrum supplementation on rugby players' performance and immune markers.
• To compare bovine colostrum (38 g/day) against soy protein in a double-blind, randomized study.

Main Methods:

• Assessed muscular strength (1RM bench/leg press), power (vertical jump), and aerobic power (20m shuttle run).
• Measured body composition (DXA, ultrasound) and salivary immune/inflammatory markers (IgA, CRP, IL-6, IL-1β).
• Evaluated changes after 8 weeks of supplementation in 29 club-level rugby players.

Main Results:

• Bovine colostrum significantly improved vertical jump height, indicating enhanced lower body power (p=0.0023).
• No significant improvements were observed in upper/lower body strength, aerobic power, or body composition.
• Salivary immune/inflammatory markers and reported illness incidences remained unaffected by supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Bovine colostrum may enhance neuromuscular performance, particularly lower body power, in rugby players.
• Limited benefits were found for other performance metrics, body composition, or immune function.
• Further research is suggested for off-season training or under conditions of higher immune stress.