Summary: Immunoglobulins form an important component of the immunological activity found in milk and colostrum. They are central to the immunological link that occurs when the mother transfers passive immunity to the offspring. The mechanism of transfer varies among mammalian species. Cattle provide a readily available immune rich colostrum and milk in large quantities, making those secretions important potential sources of immune products that may benefit humans. Immune milk is a term used to describe a range of products of the bovine mammary gland that have been tested against several human diseases. The use of colostrum or milk as a source of immunoglobulins, whether intended for the neonate of the species producing the secretion or for a different species, can be viewed in the context of the types of immunoglobulins in the secretion, the mechanisms by which the immunoglobulins are secreted, and the mechanisms by which the neonate or adult consuming the milk then gains immunological benefit. The stability of immunoglobulins as they undergo processing in the milk, or undergo digestion in the intestine, is an additional consideration for evaluating the value of milk immunoglobulins. This review summarizes the fundamental knowledge of immunoglobulins found in colostrum, milk, and immune milk. One intriguing application of our knowledge about bovine colostral and milk immunoglobulins comes through the opportunity to provide passive immunity against diseases in other species, especially in humans. The ability to direct the cow’s immune system to produce antigen-specific antibodies that are secreted in colostrum and milk and may be used to provide protection against a specific disease continues to be an area of interest. For example, the widespread consumption of immune milk from cows inoculated against diseases such as avian influenza, SARS, and other human respiratory diseases, has been suggested as a potential means of slowing outbreaks of the disease before they reach epidemic levels [24]. A number of reviews have summarized and evaluated early attempts to develop and test the use of immune milk products to provide passive immune protection. Several immune milk products are available commercially.

Colostrum and milk are rich sources of immunoglobulins. These secretions have developed through evolution to ensure homologous transfer of passive immunity from mother to offspring. The immunoglobulins that are passed from mother to her offspring, whether by transplacental transfer or by ingestion of colostrum and milk, can form an important link between the immunological experience of the mother and the immune capacity of the newborn. This immunological link also includes many immune factors that may be present in mammary secretions other than the immunoglobulins. The immunoglobulins in colostrum and milk also provide opportunities to harness their immunological function for the benefit of other animals, including humans. Research has demonstrated that bovine colostrum and milk, whether or not they are from cows immunized against specific pathogens, provide a medium for the heterologous transfer of passive immunity, and may offer disease protection in a range of species. New technologies for enhancing efficacy of vaccination, enhancing stability and extending shelf-life of the immunoglobulin preparation while minimizing the impact of the processing, and extending the effectiveness of the immunoglobulin in the intestine, may enhance future use of colostrum and milk based on their potent immunological activity. While the mechanisms by which immunoglobulins are transferred from mother to neonate and their role in the neonate have become well documented, additional research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of the immunoglobulins derived from milk or colostrum when used in animals that are developmentally more mature.

Summary: Eighteen healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two treatment groups and consumed packaged bovine colostrums, whey, and a liquid placebo for 7 days. On days 1, 3, and 5, Salmonella typhi Ty21a attenuated oral vaccine, which imitated enteropathogenic infection, was administrated. Circulating antibody-secreting antibodies and expression of phagocytosis receptors in subjects, before and after oral vaccination, were measured with the ELISPOT test and flow cytometry. All subjects responded well to the vaccine. There were no significant differences in ELISPOT values for expression of IgA, IgG, IgM, Fcgamma, and CR receptors on neutrophils and monocytes between these two groups. A tendency for a greater increase in specific IgA in individuals receiving the bovine colostrum vaccine has been determined. These results suggest that bovine colostrum may have some potential to enhance the human humoral immune response.

Basis: The failure of standard triple therapy has recently risen to high levels in China, mainly due to patients not following recommendations, antimicrobial resistance, and high costs. Many animal studies have shown effective prevention and control of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) by artificial passive immunization with orally administered bovine antibodies in milk, however, available clinical studies have not shown fighting off H. pylori. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of orally administered bovine anti-H pylori antibodies to cleanse the 0 blood group subpopulation infected with H. pylori.

Methods: Two local H. pylori epidemic strains, that occurred locally, were tested and then used to immunize dairy cows. After confirming, as a result of an enzymatic immunosorption test, the presence of polyclonal antibodies against H. pylori in milk, it was skimmed and processed into sterile milk by pasteurization. This study has been designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Our 61 people with blood group 0, infected with H. pylori, were assigned to two groups; 31 people were treated with cow's milk containing antibodies, and 30 people were treated with placebo. The study including medicines continued for 28 days. Studying people continued for 56 days. The effect was assessed with the use of C-14 urea (UBT) breath test. The SPSS 17.0 software for Windows was used for data analysis.

Results: 58 from the 61 reported people completed the protocol. One volunteer from the antibody group and two volunteers from the control group dropped out. Of the 30 subjects exposed to antibodies, 13 had a negative UBT result, while none of the 30 patients treated with placebo had a negative UBT result after drug administration. Of the 13 patients who had a negative result, 3 once again had a positive result at the end of the observation. Both treatment intentions and periprotocol analysis showed a significant difference in the cleansing of infected patients between bovine milk and placebo-treated groups (P = 0.001, P <0.05) and no significant difference in undesired effects (P> 0.05 all).

Conclusions: Oral immunotherapy based on bovine antibodies appears to be safe and has a significant cleansing effect in terms of intragastric H. pylori, which infects adults from the 0 blood group.

Summary: We have found that bovine lactoferrin (bLF), a milk protein belonging to the iron transporting family, effectively prevents hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on human hepathite (PH5CH8) cultures, a cell line susceptible to HCV infection, and supporting HCV replication. Because prior HCV incubation with bLF was needed to prevent HCV infection of cells, and previous incubation of bLF with cells showed no inhibitory effect on HCV infection, we showed that anti-HCV bLF activity was due to bLF interaction with HCV but not bLF interaction with cells. We later discovered that human lactoferrin also showed anti-HCV activity, but bovine transferrin, another member of the iron transporting family, did not have an anti-HCV activity. Our findings suggest that lactoferrin is one of the candidates for an anti-HCV antibody reagent that will be well tolerated and effective in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis.

Summary: Bovine colostrum immunoglobulins provide significant antimicrobial protection against microbial infections and provide passive immunity for newborn calves before their immune system matures. Colostrum's intensity of specific antibodies against pathogens can be increased by immunizing cows with these pathogens or their antigens. Immunological dairy products are preparations made from such hyperimmunological colostrum or its enriched antibodies. Such preparations can be used to obtain specific, effective protection against various intestinal diseases in cows and breastfeeding piglets. Colostrum immunoglobulin supplements designed for animal farms are commercially available in many countries. Also, some immune dairy products containing specific antibodies against some pathogens have been marketed. Numerous clinical trials are currently underway to test the effectiveness of immune milk in preventing and treating various human diseases, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Dairy products based on bovine colostrum have shown effectiveness in preventing viral infections. Good results have been obtained with products directed against rotavirus, bacteria of the genus Shigella flexneri, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Helicobacter pylori. Some successive trials have been implemented for the use of immune milk in the balanced bacterial flora of the digestive system. Immunological dairy products constitute promising examples of functional foods that promote health or nutraceuticals. This review summarizes the current progress in developing these products and estimates their potential as a dietary supplement and clinical nutrient.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to overview the effect of bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation for 6 weeks at a low dose with physical damage caused by physical exertion (EIMD) and a decrease in footballers’ performance during the competitive season.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled test, two groups of players were assigned with 3.2 grams of whey protein (WP, N = 8) or BC (N = 10) per day and a list has been prepared before and after supplementation. Maximum, isometric, voluntary contraction, squat jumps, vertical jump, muscle pain, red blood cell count, creatine kinase (CK), creatine protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were monitored at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours for the list after taking the supplement.

Results: List-caused transient increase in leukocytes, granulocytes, CK, muscle pain, CRP, IL-6, and a decrease in lymphocytes and performance indicators. Supplementation resulted in faster recovery of SQJ, CK, and CRP compared to pre-supplementation kinetics (test × time: p = 0.001, 0.056, 0.014, respectively) and lower incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for IL-6, only in the BC group [before:31.1 (6.78-46.9), after:14.0 (-0.16 to 23.5) pg h/ml, p = 0.034].Direct comparison of the two groups after supplementation showed higher iAUC SQJ [WP:-195.2 (-229.0 do (-52.5)), BC: -15.8 (-93.2 to 16.8) cm h, p = 0.034], trend for lower iAUC CK in the BC group [WP:18.785 (4651-41.357), BC: 8842 (4807-14.802) U h/L, p = 0.081] and significant intervention × time interaction for CRP (p = 0.038) in favor of BC.

Summary: After exercise, EIMD can be lower and performance maintained better by a low dose of List- administered BC for footballers.