Colostrum: The Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Microbial Effects For Psoriasis

When mentioning colostrum most people think probably just about its immunoglobulin content and perhaps are afraid that it may not be the best supplement for psoriatics because psoriasis is considered to be an autoimmune condition and immune support would cause just more inflammation.

The reasons why psoriasis can not be an autoimmune disease are stated in many of my blog posts so I won’t address this topic now.

In this post I would like to focus more on anti-endotoxin effects of colostrum since endotoxins as you may know are very inflammatory molecules (parts of cell wall of gram-negative bacteria) which start the inflammatory cascade.

Colostrum consists of many different bioactive molecules – lactoferrin, lysozyme, proline rich peptides and others.

Colostrum vs Lactoferrin or both?

The study published in 2002 – “Endotoxin inactivation by enterally applied colostrum of different composition” – concluded that “gammaglobulin-enriched and especially lactoferrin-enriched colostrum decreased endotoxin values by more than 50%. The most effective endotoxin elimination was seen with lactoferrin alone.”

The study was performed on rats using the administered endotoxin of E. coli and orally applied enriched colostrum and lactoferrin.


From this results it can be concluded that not only gammaglobulin but especially lactoferrin seems to be responsible for the elimination of endotoxin with regard to enterally applied colostrum preparations.
“[1]

From the results of this study it seems like the standalone lactoferrin supplement would be more effective for attenuating the inflammation in psoriasis.

In similar study one of the authors with his colleague got even better results when combination of colostrum with lactoferrin brought about 80% reduction in plasma endotoxin activity.

In both studies the albumin was used instead of colostrum in control groups.

There was also a significant reduction in bacterial contamination of lymph nodes and peritoneal lavages (fluids in the abdomen) when colostrum was administered to animals with endotoxemia.

Image Source: Döhler JR, Nebermann L. Bovine colostrum in oral treatment of enterogenic endotoxaemia in rats. Crit Care. 2002 Dec;6(6):536-9.

Image Source: Döhler JR, Nebermann L. Bovine colostrum in oral treatment of enterogenic endotoxaemia in rats. Crit Care. 2002 Dec;6(6):536-9.

Image Source: Döhler JR, Nebermann L. Bovine colostrum in oral treatment of enterogenic endotoxaemia in rats. Crit Care. 2002 Dec;6(6):536-9.

The scientists think “that not only gammaglobulin but especially lactoferrin seems to be responsible for the elimination of endotoxin with regard to enterally applied colostrum preparations.”[4]

There are some testimonials from people with psoriasis or acne besides many other conditions who claim to greatly improve or totally cleared up their skin with Lactoferrin supplement.

Anti-endotoxin antibodies in Colostrum

Yes, there are the molecules in colostrum which act as the anti-endotoxin antibodies.

There is also a patent application describing the composition of colostrum enriched with anti-endotoxin antibodies.


The present invention provides a colostrum formulation enriched in anti-endotoxin antibodies. Further provided is a method for reducing endotoxemia and blocking the onset of sepsis in patients comprising administering to the patients a colostrum formulation enriched with anti-endotoxin antibodies. Further provided is a method for treating an individual for hemolytic uremic syndrome or of protecting an individual against hemolytic uremic syndrome, comprising the step of administering to the patient an effective amount of the composition of the present invention.

Source: http://www.google.com/patents/WO2014121045A1?cl=en

Human breast milk contains the anti-endotoxin antibodies


The particularly high levels of antiendotoxin antibodies in cases of neonatal infection may present a special maternal protection for premature infants.
” [3]

The study published 20 years ago proved that human milk and colostrum contain the soluble receptors and cytokine antagonists which could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of human milk and colostrum.[5]


The colostrum contents of IL-1 receptor antagonist (672 +/- 202 pg/mL), TNF-alpha receptor I (> 3703 +/- 305 pg/mL), and TNF-alpha receptor II (> 4507 +/- 770 pg/mL) were significantly elevated over serum/plasma levels. Milk levels of IL-1 receptor antagonist and TNF-alpha receptor I were also greater than serum/ plasma levels, but lower than colostrum levels. Examination of sequential milk specimens collected from seven women over a period of 2-6 mo showed that IL-1 receptor antagonist and TNF-alpha receptors I and II persisted throughout lactation.

These studies demonstrate that human milk and colostrum contain soluble receptors and cytokine antagonists, materials which could contribute to their anti-inflammatory properties.
“[5]

Now you may be a little bit confused what are those soluble receptors and cytokine antagonists present in the human milk and colostrum.

The biologic drug etanercept (trade name Enbrel) uses similar mechanism to block the TNF-alpha molecules from binding to receptor on the cells in the body.

You may imagine the soluble receptors as the molecules which get absorbed into the bloodstream of a newborn after ingesting the colostrum and milk. Then the inflammatory molecules produced by newborn are attached to those soluble receptors found in the milk and colostrum instead of the own cells of a newborn.

The cytokine antagonists are also the chemical molecules which block the cytokine (usually inflammatory molecules) from being able to initiate the inflammation by blocking the cell receptors, blocking the cytokine production or cytokines themselves.


These data demonstrate that sTNFRI and II from human colostrum and milk bind to TNF-alpha, that both colostrum and milk interfere with the bioactivity of TNF-alpha, and that affinity-purified sTNFRI from human milk blocks the bioactivity of TNF-alpha. These effects may contribute to the anti-inflammatory character of human colostrum and milk.
“[6]

Science knows the lethality of endotoxins

The sad fact is that most doctors do not care a little bit about the endotoxins and treat the inflammation with the drugs without proper investigation of the cause of inflammation in each individual patient.

Whether it is psoriasis, depression or just chronic daily headache – all those conditions have one thing in common – inflammation.

But the solution most doctors provide is strong anti-inflammatory corticosteroids for psoriasis, strong psychoactive prescription drugs for depression and ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol for headache.

Different drugs for different health problems but of which all are likely caused by the same cause – endotoxins.

A little bit about the Lactoferrin

The unique effects of lactoferrin were proved and published also in 1998 by scientist in the study “The protective effects of lactoferrin feeding against endotoxin lethal shock in germfree piglets”.


The unique germfree, colostrum-deprived, immunologically “virgin” piglet model was used to evaluate the ability of lactoferrin (LF) to protect against lethal shock induced by intravenously administered endotoxin. Piglets were fed LF or bovine serum albumin (BSA) prior to challenge with intravenous Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and temperature, clinical symptoms, and mortality were tracked for 48 h following LPS administration.

In vitro studies using a flow cytometric assay system demonstrated that LPS binding to porcine monocytes was inhibited by LF in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that the mechanism of LF action in vivo may be inhibition of LPS binding to monocytes/macrophages and, in turn, prevention of induction of monocyte/macrophage-derived inflammatory-toxic cytokines.
“[8]

Prefeeding the piglets with lactoferrin resulted in a significant decrease in mortality compared to control animals fed with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The exact results of mortality were 16.7% vs 73.7%.

The piglets fed with lactoferrin were also resistant to endotoxin induced hypothermia (reduced body temperature).

Image Source: Lee WJ, Farmer JL, Hilty M, Kim YB. The protective effects of lactoferrin feeding against endotoxin lethal shock in germfree piglets. Infect Immun. 1998 Apr;66(4):1421-6.

The scientists are still well aware of lethality of endotoxins so they are constantly on a journey to develop new anti-endotoxin molecules.


Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) is the major pathogenic factor of gram-negative septic shock, and endotoxin-induced death is associated with the host overproduction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In the search for new antiendotoxin molecules, we studied the endotoxin-neutralizing capacity of a human lactoferrin-derived 33-mer synthetic peptide (GRRRRSVQWCAVSQPEATKCFQWQRNMRKVRGP; designated LF-33) representing the minimal sequence for lactoferrin binding to glycosaminoglycans. LF-33 inhibited the coagulation of the Limulus amebocyte lysate and the secretion of TNF-α by RAW 264.7 cells induced by lipid A and four different endotoxins with a potency comparable to that of polymyxin B.

Coinjection of Escherichia coli LPS (125 ng) with LF-33 (2.5 μg) dramatically reduced the lethality of LPS in the galactosamine-sensitized mouse model. Significant protection of the mice against the lethal LPS challenge was also observed when LF-33 (100 μg) was given intravenously after intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Protection was correlated with a reduction in TNF-α levels in the mouse serum. These results demonstrate the endotoxin-neutralizing capability of LF-33 in vitro and in vivo and its potential use for the treatment of endotoxin-induced septic shock.
“[7]

Image Source: Zhang GH, Mann DM, Tsai CM. Neutralization of endotoxin in vitro and in vivo by a human lactoferrin-derived peptide. Infect Immun. 1999 Mar;67(3):1353-8.

But why doesn’t the practical medicine care one bit about the endotoxins in common chronic inflammatory diseases?

Sepsis is not the only symptom of endotoxemia!

Colostrum helps with many problems

Why?

Because as I always strive to say – most diseases are just the various symptoms of the same inflammation.

There are many positive references about the colostrum on the internet. Even long-term cases of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) may improve when taking the colostrum.


I am continuing to improve after 25 years of CFS/ME by taking Bovine Colostrum[4×2] and Lactoferrin[2×2]per day. I have been on it for 3 months now and have more energy and enthusiasm than I have had for years. I take the immune care brand, but any good brand should work. Do your research and see if it is for you.
I also am on a anti candida diet. As I’m sure that candida is part of my problem.
A word of warning – don’t take your dose of colostrum before bedtime as it keeps you awake. Love and Light, Deotima.

Source link: http://www.curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=1618062

References:

1) Seifert J, Molkewehrum M, Oesser S, Nebermann L, Schulze C. Endotoxin inactivation by enterally applied colostrum of different composition. Eur Surg Res. 2002 Jan-Apr;34(1-2):68-72.

2) Döhler JR, Nebermann L. Bovine colostrum in oral treatment of enterogenic endotoxaemia in rats. Crit Care. 2002 Dec;6(6):536-9.

3) Feist N, Berger D, Speer CP. Anti-endotoxin antibodies in human milk: correlation with infection of the newborn. Acta Paediatr. 2000 Sep;89(9):1087-92.

4) Seifert J. · Molkewehrum M. · Oesser S. · Nebermann L. · Schulze C. Endotoxin Inactivation by Enterally Applied Colostrum of Different Composition. European Surgical Research 2002, 34(1-2):68-72

5) Buescher ES, Malinowska I. Soluble receptors and cytokine antagonists in human milk. Pediatr Res. 1996 Dec;40(6):839-44.

6) Buescher ES, McWilliams-Koeppen P. Soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) receptors in human colostrum and milk bind to TNF-alpha and neutralize TNF-alpha bioactivity. Pediatr Res. 1998 Jul;44(1):37-42.

7) Zhang GH, Mann DM, Tsai CM. Neutralization of endotoxin in vitro and in vivo by a human lactoferrin-derived peptide. Infect Immun. 1999 Mar;67(3):1353-8.

8) Lee WJ, Farmer JL, Hilty M, Kim YB. The protective effects of lactoferrin feeding against endotoxin lethal shock in germfree piglets. Infect Immun. 1998 Apr;66(4):1421-6.

4 Responses

  1. Charles says:

    Slightly confused by some of the links in the article. Are you recommending the lactoferrin alone or the colostrum supplement as the better approach?

    • John says:

      What links do you mean?

      The product links or the links to studies?

      Generally, there is about 5 mg of Lactoferrin per 1 gram of colostrum.

      So, to get the 250 mg of Lactoferrin – which is a standard per capsule if you buy a dedicated supplement – you would need to take 50 grams of colostrum.

      Some people do that but economically it is too expensive for many.

      That’s why I would say that Lactoferrin is better if you asked if it would be better to take 1 gram of colostrum daily or 1 capsule of Lactoferrin.

      But keep in mind that Colostrum contains the other bioactive molecules which can not be replaced with Lactoferrin only.

      This article is about the colostrum and lactoferrin effects on endotoxins, so the other bioactive molecules like Immunoglobulins are not discussed here in details.

      But I still think that it would be more effective to take more than just about 1 gram of colostrum daily.

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