colostrum n : milky fluid secreted for the first day or two after parturition [syn: foremilk]

English

Noun

colostrum

1. a form of milk produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the few days after giving birth. Human and bovine colostrum is thick and yellowish. In humans, it has high concentrations of nutrients and antibodies, but it is small in quantity.

Synonyms

• beestings
• first milk

Translations

• Chinese: 初乳 chū rǔ
• Finnish: ternimaito
• French: colostrum
• Italian: colostro
• Japanese: 初乳 (しょにゅう, sho'nyuu)
• Korean: 초유 cho-yu

Beestings redirects here: or you may have wanted bee sting or beasting.

distinguish claustrum

Colostrum (also known as beestings or first milk or "immune milk") is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals in late pregnancy and the few days after giving birth.

Colostrum is high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies and low in fat (as human newborns may find fat difficult to digest). Newborns have very small digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. It has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of the baby's first stool, which is called meconium. This clears excess bilirubin, a waste product of dead red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at birth due to blood volume reduction, from the infant's body and helps prevent jaundice. Colostrum contains all five immunoglobulins found in all mammals, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. There are many beneficial proteins in the colostrum, including a variety of growth factors (IGfs). Bovine colostrum is sometimes used by humans as a dietary supplement for general immunity and physical strength.

Numerous biotechnology companies have now taken further steps by injecting cows with proprietary vaccines against human disease causing pathogens. From this "hyper-immunized" Primed colostrum, one could purify the antibodies to form the basis of their research & development, and product range. Specifically, such a method allows for a disease specific antibodies to be highlighted in the bovine colostrum, resulting with a dietary supplement that has, in addition to the general benefits of colostrum, additional attributes for fighting specific pathogens. A few examples are IBD and IBS, Mucositis and Influenza

External links

• Colostrum Center Website

References