A Look Inside What is in “First Milk” Colostrum
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From the chart above, it is very obvious how fast the relationship of the biologically active components in bovine colostrum changes after birth of the calf. Recognizing this changing relationship is extremely important in defining what bovine colostrum really is and in assuring that it contains the maximum amount of biologically active substances.
Protein
Complete bovine colostrum contains a numerous amount of proteins. These proteins can have significant health benefits for humans. Before birth, these beneficial proteins are carried in the bloodstream of the mother cow; however, the mother cow begins to reabsorb these proteins after six to eight hours after her calf is born. This makes the first milking of colostrum the key in obtaining the highest amount of proteins available by the mother cow. 24 hours after birth casein and albumin are the only beneficial proteins found in the mother’s milk.
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)
10-15% of the ?first milking? colostrum is lactose. An enzyme in the calf’s stomach and saliva, called the lactase enzyme, break glucose and galactose down to create energy for the developing calf. The amount of lactose increases in the mother’s milk for the developing calf. The lactose content 6 hours after birth is half of what it is at 12 hours and a third of what it is 24 hours after birth.
Humans also have the lactase enzyme in their stomach and in their saliva. So when the enzyme is broken down it also gives humans an immediate metabolic energy. Some people are lactose intolerant due to their bodies producing none or very little of the lactase enzyme. Most of these individuals need not worry about using colostrum as a dietary supplement.
More Compositional Considerations
When colostrum and milk are compared, the following results are found:
Colostrum has 10 times the amount of vitamin A than milk.
Colostrum has 3 times the amount of vitamin D than milk
Iron is found to be 10 times great in colostrum than milk.
Colostrum contains more calcium, phosphorous and magnesium than milk.
The 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.
Dr. Anthony Kleinsmith is considered one of the world’s leading experts on colostrum products. He is in high demand for radio and television 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. Learn more about the benefits of colostrum at www.ImmuneTree.com
