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The biologically active components in bovine colostrum change very rapidly after the calf is born. Due to these rapid changes, it becomes necessary to know that it has the highest amount of biologically active substances and that you know exactly what makes up bovine colostrum.
Protein
Most of the biologically active substances in complete bovine colostrum that can convey significant health benefits are proteins. Since almost all of the beneficial proteins are conveyed from the mother's bloodstream into the colostrum before birth and the mother then begins to reabsorb them about 6-8 hours after birth, it is important to use colostrum that has been collected during a time period that will minimize the effect of the reabsorption process. Of real significance is the fact that by 24 hours after birth most of the proteins in the udder fluid can be accounted for by two individual proteins that are primarily only of nutritional value, casein and albumin.
Colostral Fat.
Some people and companies believe that the milk fat in bovine colostrum either does not have any purpose or can deteriorate the product quicker. One such company takes the fat out of their product but adds a different fat component back into their product. Their claim is their ?colostrum? is more digestible. True bovine colostrum helps in digestion. The protein, casein, found in bovine colostrum, breaks down in the stomach into amino acids and peptides which are absorbed then used to create new muscle in the stomach. If the milk fat is removed from the colostrum, not only are you losing some important biologically active substances, but you are losing the benefits of the casein protein.
20-30% of the ?first milking? colostrum is milk fat. Some beneficial biologically active substances found in that milk fat are corticosteroids, steroid hormones, some growth factors, vitamins A, D, E and K and insulin.
Lactose (Milk Sugar)
Approximately 10-15% of all of the solid material in high quality complete first milking colostrum will be lactose.2 Lactose is extremely important to the calf as an immediate metabolic energy source when it is broken down to glucose and galactose by an enzyme (lactase) in the saliva and the stomach. Therefore, it makes good sense that the amount of lactose in transitional milk and mature milk increases as the calf develops rapidly during the early days of its life.
Since most people have the same enzyme (lactase) in their saliva and their digestive system, the lactose in the colostrum that they use as a dietary supplement can provide the same ready source of metabolic energy. However, there are ?lactose intolerant? individuals who have problems digesting lactose because their body produces too little or none of the lactase enzyme. The amount of lactose in first milking colostrum collected within 6 hours after birth is about one-half of what it is at 12 hours after birth and one-third of what it becomes by 24 hours. Therefore, a high quality complete first milking colostrum collected within 6 hours after birth can be used as a dietary supplement by more people without potentially having them suffer the discomforts associated with lactose intolerance.
Other compositional considerations.
The benefits of ?first milking? colostrum verses milk can be found as follows:
Vitamin A is found to be 10 times greater in colostrum than milk.
Colostrum contains 3 times more vitamin D than milk.
Colostrum has 10 times the amount of iron than milk
Colostrum has more magnesium, phosphorous and calcium than milk.
Biologically Active Components
The biologically active components in complete first milking colostrum can be divided into categories based upon the health aspect where they exert their greatest influence. In some cases the functions of these components can be clearly separated into such categories, while, in many cases, the dividing line is clouded. The major categories are the Immune Factors, the Growth Factors and the Metabolic Factors. It is very important to recognize that most of the very broad claims made by many suppliers of colostrum for human consumption about what these substances do are based upon very specialized studies in experimental animals and represent the company's interpretation of the results and not necessarily that of the original scientific investigator. - 30241
The biologically active components in bovine colostrum change very rapidly after the calf is born. Due to these rapid changes, it becomes necessary to know that it has the highest amount of biologically active substances and that you know exactly what makes up bovine colostrum.
Protein
Most of the biologically active substances in complete bovine colostrum that can convey significant health benefits are proteins. Since almost all of the beneficial proteins are conveyed from the mother's bloodstream into the colostrum before birth and the mother then begins to reabsorb them about 6-8 hours after birth, it is important to use colostrum that has been collected during a time period that will minimize the effect of the reabsorption process. Of real significance is the fact that by 24 hours after birth most of the proteins in the udder fluid can be accounted for by two individual proteins that are primarily only of nutritional value, casein and albumin.
Colostral Fat.
Some people and companies believe that the milk fat in bovine colostrum either does not have any purpose or can deteriorate the product quicker. One such company takes the fat out of their product but adds a different fat component back into their product. Their claim is their ?colostrum? is more digestible. True bovine colostrum helps in digestion. The protein, casein, found in bovine colostrum, breaks down in the stomach into amino acids and peptides which are absorbed then used to create new muscle in the stomach. If the milk fat is removed from the colostrum, not only are you losing some important biologically active substances, but you are losing the benefits of the casein protein.
20-30% of the ?first milking? colostrum is milk fat. Some beneficial biologically active substances found in that milk fat are corticosteroids, steroid hormones, some growth factors, vitamins A, D, E and K and insulin.
Lactose (Milk Sugar)
Approximately 10-15% of all of the solid material in high quality complete first milking colostrum will be lactose.2 Lactose is extremely important to the calf as an immediate metabolic energy source when it is broken down to glucose and galactose by an enzyme (lactase) in the saliva and the stomach. Therefore, it makes good sense that the amount of lactose in transitional milk and mature milk increases as the calf develops rapidly during the early days of its life.
Since most people have the same enzyme (lactase) in their saliva and their digestive system, the lactose in the colostrum that they use as a dietary supplement can provide the same ready source of metabolic energy. However, there are ?lactose intolerant? individuals who have problems digesting lactose because their body produces too little or none of the lactase enzyme. The amount of lactose in first milking colostrum collected within 6 hours after birth is about one-half of what it is at 12 hours after birth and one-third of what it becomes by 24 hours. Therefore, a high quality complete first milking colostrum collected within 6 hours after birth can be used as a dietary supplement by more people without potentially having them suffer the discomforts associated with lactose intolerance.
Other compositional considerations.
The benefits of ?first milking? colostrum verses milk can be found as follows:
Vitamin A is found to be 10 times greater in colostrum than milk.
Colostrum contains 3 times more vitamin D than milk.
Colostrum has 10 times the amount of iron than milk
Colostrum has more magnesium, phosphorous and calcium than milk.
Biologically Active Components
The biologically active components in complete first milking colostrum can be divided into categories based upon the health aspect where they exert their greatest influence. In some cases the functions of these components can be clearly separated into such categories, while, in many cases, the dividing line is clouded. The major categories are the Immune Factors, the Growth Factors and the Metabolic Factors. It is very important to recognize that most of the very broad claims made by many suppliers of colostrum for human consumption about what these substances do are based upon very specialized studies in experimental animals and represent the company's interpretation of the results and not necessarily that of the original scientific investigator. - 30241
About the Author:
Dr. Anthony Kleinsmith is considered one of the world's leading authorities on colostrum products. He is sought-after for media appearances; he travels worldwide in his continuing efforts to educate people about colostrum everywhere. His first book sold over half of a million prints worldwide. You can read more about the benefits of colostrum at www.ImmuneTree.com
