Some Frequently Asked Questions about Colostrum

The most important components of colostrum can be broken down into three major categories:
Immune System Factors, Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs), Immunoglobulins, Lactofferin,
Transferrin, Cytokines, Lysozymes, Enzymes, Lactalbumin, Glycoproteins, Others

Growth Factors,
Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1, IGF-2), Transforming Growth Factor (TGF-a, TGF-ß),
Epithelial Growth Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Platelet Derived
Growth Factor

Others

Nutritional Components.
Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Essential Oils.

Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs)

Proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs) act systemically, modulating the complex immune system and are
therefore the most important ingredient in colostrum.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — without the
complex tertiary structure of proteins. Proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs), so-called because
they contain an unusually high proportion of the amino acid proline, are intercellular
signaling molecules that have the unique ability to modulate the immune system, turning it up
when needed or turning it down when it is overactive.

Immunomodulating colostral peptides appear under various names in literature, including
transfer factor, colostrinin and Proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs).

They work as hormones that regulate the thymus gland (bodies central command for the immune
system), stimulating an underactive immune system or down-regulating an overactive immune
system.

The immunoglobulin fraction in bovine colostrum is composed of approximately 70-80% IgG, 10-15%
IgA, 10-15% IgM,while IgE and IgD are found in small amounts.

IgG — predominant immunoglobulin in bovine milk colostrum; primary function is to identify and
help destroy invading pathogenic microbes.
IgA — predominant immunoglobulin in human milk and colostrum; primary role is as first line of
defense, protects mucosal surfaces and prevents the attachment of pathogens to them.
IgM — primary role is "first to fight;" enhances phagocytosis by destroying invading
pathogens.
IgE — involved with the allergic reaction and histamine-associated allergic reaction; also
involved with active defense against enteric parasites.
IgD — attached to B cells; it stimulates lymphocytes to produce antibodies by presenting
antigens to them.

Laboratory analyses of both immune and growth factors from bovine colostrum indicate that they
are identical to those found in human colostrum except for the fact that the levels of these
factors are significantly higher in the bovine version. Bovine colostrum is actually 40 times
richer in immune factors than human colostrum. For example, human colostrum contains 2% of IgG
(immunoglobulin G) while cow colostrum contains 86% of IgG, the most important of the
immunoglobulins found in the body.

Local protection in the form of immuno-supplementation with bovine milk antibodies has been
shown to be an effective means of providing local protection to the GI tract.

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that helps deprive bacteria of the iron they require to
reproduce and releases iron into the red blood cells enhancing oxygenation of tissues.
Lactoferrin modulates cytokine release and its receptors have been found on most immune cells
including lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and platelets.

These are the major nutritional whey proteins in milk and colostrum.

Cytokines are small proteins that are secreted by specific cells of the immune system. They are
a category of signaling molecules that are used extensively in cellular communication. They are
proteins, peptides, or glycoproteins.

Lysozymes can help support the immune system.

Lactoperidase-thiocyanate, peroxidase, and xanthine oxidase oxidize bacteria through their
ability to release hydrogen per

Glycoproteins are a digestive factor that has been shown to help immune and growth factors
survive the passage through

Colostrum contains many growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor-1 and 2 (IGF-1 and
IGF-2), Epithelial growth factor (EGF), Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Platelet-derived growth
factor (PDGF), and Transforming growth factors alpha ß (TGA-a and TGF-ß).

Growth factors, are peptides that function as intercellular signaling molecules to turn on or
turn off the production of specific proteins in the target cells.

Their presence in colostrum is primarily to complete the growth and development of the newborn
gut, but in older children and adults they help support a healthy gut wall.

Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, and Essential Oils

Colostrum is a combination of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are naturally occurring
in a perfect combination. Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, and E are found in small amounts while
traces of all other vitamins, as well as minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium and zinc,
are also present in colostrum. Colostrum is a rich source of both essential and non-essential
aminoacids, as well as essential fats, including phospholipids, which enable colostral protein
protection and easy absorption in the gut by forming liposomes around them.

• Pregnant Women or Those Trying to Get Pregnant
• Pregnancy is indicated as a TH2 condition, or diseased state in the body. PRPs appear
  to reestablish a normal TH2/TH1 balance so it is recommended that pregnant women or those
  trying to get pregnant do not take bovine colostrum.
• People That Have Had Organ Transplants
• Bovine colostrum may interact with the immune-suppressing medications these people
  might be taking. Until clinical studies have been performed to prove the safety of bovine
  colostrum in these cases, it is recommended not to take bovine colostrum.