Bovine Colostrum: Is it the Secret to Gut Health for Infants?

Motherhood is a glorious gift from the Divine, and as Joan Ryan says, “Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have."

Here, we are going to touch upon a simple topic that can help mothers and to-be mothers. 

Motherhood is beautiful, but sometimes it can be challenging for those who have faced complications in delivering babies and welcomed a preterm infant.

The challenges endured by the mother are immense, but the newborn often faces greater complexities. 

Who are Preterm Infants? Born Too Soon 

Let’s understand Preterm Infants and the health challenges they face!

Preterm infants are those babies who are born before the normal gestation (the time between conception and birth, when the baby develops in the womb) period of pregnancy.

In humans, the average gestation period is 280 days or 40 weeks. However, as every individual is unique and differs from each other, this period varies on an individual level. 

Let's just understand that it is the period when most of a baby’s development occurs. For example, this includes the formation of structures, movement, sensory development, physical growth, organ maturation, and the maturation of the nervous system. 

However, in certain cases, the mother has to give birth early, i.e., preterm birth. 

A premature birth, or preterm birth, happens when a baby is born three or more weeks early. Since the average full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, a preterm birth is when a baby is born before the end of the 37th week. 

There could be many reasons and underlying potential factors behind this, such as:

• Infections of the uterus 

• High blood pressure

• Health issues of the mother, i.e., diabetes, hypertension

• Weak Cervix & structural issues of the uterus 

Now the question arises;

How do Preterm Infants Differ from Full-Term Infants? 

These preemies (premature babies) significantly differ from full-term infants, and it is obvious that they do not get the sufficient time required in the mother's womb. 

Understand the basics of preterm infants V/S full-term infants:

What are the Health Challenges a Preterm Infant May Face

Preterm infants may face different health challenges as their organs are not fully mature. Some of these challenges are listed below: 

• More prone to infections 

• Jaundice

• Weak gastrointestinal tract (GIT) 

Since the gut is very important, all future bodily functions depend on gut health & the beneficial bacteria in it. The initial gut health is responsible for the baby’s immunity and overall infant health. 

But when a baby is born prematurely, their digestive system is still developing, which usually happens in the womb. Outside the womb, this process can lead to challenges like underdeveloped digestion and a "leaky gut," where the intestinal barrier is not fully formed.

To tackle this issue, let’s explore the options to improve the little ones’ gut health : 

A preterm baby’s underdeveloped digestive system needs special care, including a strict feeding plan to support its growth.

Mother's milk is widely recognized as the best source of nutrition for preterm babies, helping to strengthen their gut and overall health.

Also read The Gut Health-Weight Loss Connection.

So, what makes mother's milk necessary? 

Because of these benefits:

1. Less Risk of Health Issues 

• Reduces the risk of serious infections 

• Enhances brain & nervous system development

2. Provides Immune Support

• Provides antibodies & nutrients that strengthen the baby’s immune system

3. Improves Digestive Health

•  Supports the development and functioning of the immature gastrointestinal tract

The problem: Sometimes, mother's milk may be limited just after birth and may not provide enough nutrients. 

Options to provide nutrition to preterm infants, but whether they are good for them will only be decided by healthcare professionals.

1. Human Milk Fortification (HMF): This can be used when growth is inadequate despite receiving the mother’s milk.  Breast milk can be fortified with human milk fortifiers, which add extra calories, protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins.

2. Donor milk: When maternal breast milk is unavailable, pasteurized donor human milk can be a suitable alternative. It retains many of the beneficial properties of breast milk, including antibodies and nutrients.

3. Bovine Colostrum: It is the fluid produced by the mammary glands shortly after birth, before milk is produced in cows. 

In the early 20th century, bovine colostrum was advocated to protect infants against both human and bovine infections. Before the era of antibiotics, it was used to enhance defense against different immune diseases. 

Also read What is Bovine Colostrum: Benefits, Nutrition, Uses, and Potential Side Effects.

Why do Researchers Get Interested in Bovine Colostrum?

This sparked interest among researchers to explore the benefits of bovine colostrum for preterm infants. For example, a study titled Bovine Colostrum for Preterm Infants in the First Days of Life: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial investigated its potential advantages. We have simplified it for you in the section below:

What was the objective?

To find whether bovine colostrum (BC) could safely be used as an alternative to a mother’s own milk (MM) for preterm babies.

What did the study do? 

Researchers gave preterm babies either Bovine Colostrum, donor milk (DM), or infant formula (IF) along with MM for the first 14 days. They compared how the babies grew, how they handled feeding, and whether there were any problems.

What were the key findings? 

• Babies who received Bovine Colostrum had more protein, and in one group, started full feeding sooner.

• A few babies on this first food had slightly higher levels of a protein marker in their blood. 

What did the study conclude? 

The study concluded that bovine colostrum as an alternative to mother's milk for preterm infants, needed further studies to confirm its safety and long-term benefits.

Similarly, another study tested whether the bovine colostrum could be a better fortifier than the conventional bovine-milk-based fortifier (CF). What they found was that babies receiving Bovine Colostrum fortifiers received 10% more protein as compared to conventional bovine-milk-based fortifiers (CF). Additionally, babies who received Bovine Colostrum also had higher amino acid levels in their blood, indicating better protein metabolism. 

Research in another pilot study also found that babies who were fed this first milk had lower levels of certain harmful bacteria, such as Enterococcaceae, compared to those who received donor milk. It also showed that when harmful bacteria decrease, the levels of important amino acids increase in the blood. This inhibition of harmful bacteria may help maintain a healthier gut microbiota profile in preterm infants.  

In another pre-clinical study, researchers tested how gradually introducing bovine colostrum or donor milk affects the gut development of preterm pigs. They found that pigs fed bovine colostrum have healthier intestines, with higher nutrient absorption, better gut structure, and more beneficial bacteria. 

Note: However, it is still unknown if the same results apply to preterm human babies, and therefore, more extensive studies are needed. And it is not FDA-approved.

Lastly, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand their long-term effects on the health of preterm infants. 

Conclusion: 

While breast milk remains the gold standard for infant nutrition, some researchers are exploring bovine colostrum as a complementary alternative. Currently, Bovine Colostrum is not FDA-approved for preterm infants. Healthcare professionals recommend consulting a doctor before considering any new dietary supplement for preterm infants to ensure its safety and suitability.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We do not promote the use of Bovine colostrum in preterm infants.

References: 

1. Bovine Colostrum Uses, Benefits & Dosage (no date). https://www.drugs.com/npp/bovine-colostrum.htm.

2. Jiang, P. et al. (2021) 'Gut colonization in preterm infants supplemented with bovine colostrum in the first week of life: An explorative pilot study,' Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 46(3), pp. 592–599. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.2191.

3. Juhl, S.M. et al. (2017) 'Bovine colostrum for preterm infants in the first days of life,' Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 66(3), pp. 471–478. https://doi.org/10.1097/mpg.0000000000001774.

4. Rasmussen, S.O. et al. (2016) 'Bovine colostrum improves neonatal growth, digestive function, and gut immunity relative to donor human milk and infant formula in preterm pigs,' AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 311(3), pp. G480–G491. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00139.2016.