Elixir of life

What is colostrum? 

Colostrum is a thick off-white to yellowish fluid that babies get from their mother within the first few hours after birth. Colostrum is a very dynamic fluid, which is why it is called the "elixir of life". Amazingly, it contains EVERYTHING that your newborn needs to help baby to survive in the world it has just been born into. There have been many studies that have analyzed colostrum and in some cases have been around since at least 1949. So the importance of colostrum to a newborn isnʻt a new concept. Lets quickly go through the amazing things that are in colostrum.

Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM): In breastfeeding, the mother is transferring both of her adaptive and innate immune cells also called immunoglobulins to baby through their stomach. The IgA is optimal for mucosal defense, neutralizing pathogens and preventing excess inflammation and damage to tissues in babyʻs gut. IgA also is responsible for microbial and food allergy tolerance.

IgM & IgG are important in activating the complement pathway to remove pathogens, as well as to initiate the innate response.

Lactoferrin: LF has several important roles in assisting a baby's immune system in fighting off bacteria and viral infections.

Growth Factors: A growth factor is a protein that has a role in regulating the way a group of cells divide and change. The growth factors in colostrum have various effects on the intestinal tract, blood vessels, nervous system and endocrine systems.

Leukocyte: are the components of the mother’s blood cells which are responsible for immune response to bacterial and viral invaders. Colostrum contains macrophages, neutrophils and leukocytes, providing cellular defense and supports the maturation of the baby’s gut.

Oligosaccharides: Colostral oligosaccharides are a pre-biotic for beneficial gut bacteria such as bifidobacteria, and it promotes early establishment of a healthy microbiota. They also act as a “decoy” where pathogens are tricked to attach to the oligosaccharides to prevent them from attaching to intestinal cells, reducing the risk of gastrointestinal infections. They also enhance tissue repair and promote homeostasis in the gut. 

Vitamins & Minerals: Colostrum supplies high levels of minerals which include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and others that are essential for skeletal development, cardiac and neuromuscular function, and enzyme activity. The minerals also support immune cell function, helping reduce early-life morbidity while baby’s own systems are still maturing.

Stem Cell: Studies of human breast milk have shown that the stem cells collected from colostrum and mature breast milk have characteristics of mesenchymal and pluripotent stem cells. These types of stem cells can be changed into various cell types of all cell types in both the mother and the baby.

There has been increasing evidence to suggest that the total complexity and function of breast milk would allow breast milk to be classified as a living organism, underlining the importance of continuous breast feeding.

Ninkina N, Kukharsky MS, Hewitt MV, Lysikova EA, Skuratovska LN, Deykin AV, Buchman VL. Stem cells in human breast milk. Hum Cell. 2019 Jul;32(3):223-230. doi: 10.1007/s13577-019-00251-7. Epub 2019 Apr 10. PMID: 30972555; PMCID: PMC6570695.

Rio-Aige K, Azagra-Boronat I, Castell M, Selma-Royo M, Collado MC, Rodríguez-Lagunas MJ, Pérez-Cano FJ. The Breast Milk Immunoglobulinome. Nutrients. 2021 May 26;13(6):1810. doi: 10.3390/nu13061810. PMID: 34073540; PMCID: PMC8230140.