BOVINE COLOSTRUM AS A BIOACTIVE PRODUCT AGAINST HUMAN MICROBIAL INFECTIONS AND GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

摘要

Colostrum is a yellowish milky fluid produced by the breasts in the last few weeks of pregnancy and in the first 2-3 days after childbirth. It is rich in fats, sugars, proteins, antibodies, growth factors, vitamins and minerals. Colostrum represents a means of passive immune transfer from mother to the neonatal. It is a very important component of breast milk and helps in the establishment of early immune system that can protect against various gastrointestinal tract infections and stimulate better growth and development of the neonatal. For obvious reasons, human colostrum can not be used for commercial purposes but bovine colostrum, which is both safe and have similar compositional properties as human colostrum has been used extensively as a health supplement. The aim of this review is to describe the major nutritive components of colostrum and discuss their roles in providing protection against microbial infections and gastrointestinal tract disorders