Colostrum
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
First milk containing concentrated immunoglobulins, growth factors, and lactoferrin.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Colostrum is an other most often used for gut health, immune support, athletic recovery. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging. A typical adult dose is 500-2,000 mg daily, commonly taken as bovine colostrum (first milking, cold-processed). This profile indexes 20 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating emerging. Most-documented uses: gut health, immune support, athletic recovery. 20 sources indexed (2000–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
IgG antibodies provide passive immune support. Lactoferrin has antimicrobial and iron-modulating effects. Growth factors (IGF-1, TGF-β) support gut repair and mucosal immunity.16,18
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Bovine Colostrum.
Assumes 500-2,000 mg/day. Vendor basis: iHerb, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and specialty colostrum brands; first-milking and high-IgG claims drive premium pricing. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Colostrum is first milk collected after calving and is not a normal retail food with predictable immunoglobulin content.
Full safety detail.
Side effects
- GI discomfort
- Bloating
Contraindications
- Dairy allergy
- Lactose intolerance (small amounts present)
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
9- 1Effects of different dietary supplements on athletic performance in soccer players: a systematic review and network meta-analysisPMIDLuo H, Tengku Kamalden TF, Zhu X, Xiang C, Nasharuddin NA · J Int Soc Sports Nutr · 2025
Network meta-analysis of 80 RCTs identified bovine colostrum as having a moderate significant effect on increasing distance covered in soccer players compared to placebo.
- 2Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on gut health of children: A systematic reviewPMIDOswal D, Angolkar M, Mahantashetti NS et al. · Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition · 2025
Oswal D, Angolkar M, Mahantashetti NS et al.. Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on gut health of children: A systematic review. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. 2025
- 3Bovine Colostrum in Increased Intestinal Permeability in Healthy Athletes and Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical TrialsPMIDDziewiecka H et al. · Nutrients · 2024
BC supplementation significantly reduced intestinal permeability as measured by lactulose/rhamnose ratio across randomized clinical trials.
- 4The effect of oropharyngeal colostrum administration on the clinical outcomes of premature infants: A meta-analysisPMIDFu ZY, Huang C, Lei L et al. · International journal of nursing studies · 2023
Fu ZY, Huang C, Lei L et al.. The effect of oropharyngeal colostrum administration on the clinical outcomes of premature infants: A meta-analysis. International journal of nursing studies. 2023
- 5Colostrum Use and the Immune System of Premature Newborns: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDColonetti T, de Carvalho Florêncio I, Figueiredo P et al. · Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2022
Colonetti T, de Carvalho Florêncio I, Figueiredo P et al.. Colostrum Use and the Immune System of Premature Newborns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. 2022
- 6Bovine Colostrum Applications in Sick and Healthy People: A Systematic ReviewPMIDGuberti M, Botti S, Capuzzo MT et al. · Nutrients · 2021
Guberti M, Botti S, Capuzzo MT et al.. Bovine Colostrum Applications in Sick and Healthy People: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021
- 7Immunological Outcomes of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation in Trained and Physically Active People: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDJones AW et al. · Sports Medicine · 2020
In 10 RCTs (239 participants), BC supplementation had no or low impact on serum immunoglobulins and lymphocytes, but reduced upper respiratory tract symptom days.
- 8Oropharyngeal Colostrum for Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDPanchal H, Athalye-Jape G, Patole S · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2019
Panchal H, Athalye-Jape G, Patole S. Oropharyngeal Colostrum for Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). 2019
- 9Bovine colostrum supplementation for upper respiratory illness prevention: a systematic review and meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDJones AW, March DS, Curtis F, Mayur C · Sports Med · 2016
Randomized controlled trials
5- 10The effect of 12-week high-dose Colostrum Bovinum supplementation on immunological, hematological and biochemical markers in endurance athletes: a randomized crossover placebo-controlled studyPMIDDurkalec-Michalski K, Glowka N, Podgorski T, Wozniewicz M, Nowaczyk PM · Front Immunol · 2024
Randomized crossover study in 28 endurance-trained males found 12-week bovine colostrum supplementation (25 g/day) significantly increased post-exercise secretory IgA concentration in saliva, suggesting enhanced local immune defense.
- 11Bovine colostrum to supplement the first feeding of very preterm infants: The PreColos randomized controlled trialPMIDYan X, Pan X, Ding L et al. · Clin Nutr · 2023
Multicenter RCT of 350 very preterm infants found bovine colostrum supplementation during the first 14 days of life did not reduce time to full enteral feeding and had only marginal effects on clinical variables compared to preterm formula.
- 12The Effects of 12 Weeks Colostrum Milk Supplementation on the Expression Levels of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and Metabolic Changes among Older AdultsSource linkedPMIDOoi TC, Ahmad A, Rajab NF et al. · Nutrients · 2023
- 13Bovine colostrum supplementation during running training increases intestinal permeabilitySource linkedPMIDMarch DS, Marchbank T, Sheridan DA et al. · Nutrients · 2017
- 14The nutriceutical bovine colostrum truncates the increase in gut permeability caused by heavy exercise in athletesPMIDMarchbank T et al. · American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology · 2011
In a double-blind crossover study, exercise increased intestinal permeability 2.5-fold with placebo, while colostrum truncated the rise by 80%.
Reviews & position papers
4- 15Therapeutics effects of bovine colostrum applications on gastrointestinal diseases: a systematic reviewPMIDBarakat SH et al. · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2024
In 22 clinical trials (1427 patients), diarrhea frequency decreased with BC supplementation in 15 of 20 interventional arms.
- 16Diverse Immune Effects of Bovine Colostrum and Benefits in Human Health and DiseasePMIDPlayford RJ et al. · Nutrients · 2021
Bovine colostrum contains concentrated immunoglobulins (IgG 75-90% of total), lactoferrin, growth factors (IGF-1, TGF-beta), and over 250 functional constituents.
- 17Bovine colostrum supplementation and exercise performance: potential mechanisms and effect on the gastrointestinal tractSource linkedPMIDDavison G · J Nutr · 2021
- 18Colostrum and milk-derived peptide growth factors for the treatment of gastrointestinal disordersPMIDPlayford RJ et al. · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2000
Lactoferrin has antimicrobial and iron-modulating effects; growth factors (IGF-1, TGF-beta) support gut repair and mucosal immunity.
Reference material
2- 19Anne RP, Kumar J, Kumar P et al.. Effect of oropharyngeal colostrum therapy on neonatal sepsis in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. 2024Source linkedPMID
- 20Slouha E, Anderson ZS, Ankrah NMN et al.. Colostrum and Preterm Babies: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Colostrum, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Colostrum?
First milk containing concentrated immunoglobulins, growth factors, and lactoferrin.
What is Colostrum used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Colostrum include: Gut health; Immune support; Athletic recovery; Gut barrier repair. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging.
What is a typical dose of Colostrum?
A typical adult dose of Colostrum is 500-2,000 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is Bovine colostrum (first milking, cold-processed). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Colostrum?
Reported side effects include gi discomfort, bloating. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Colostrum?
NutriStack rates this as Emerging, meaning early RCT signal, mechanistic data, or limited human evidence. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Colostrum in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.