Bovine colostrum: A source of bioactive compounds for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
Rhaabe D.S. Gomes,
Katya Anaya,
Alyne B.S. Galdino,
Juliana P.F. Oliveira,
Marco A.S. Gama,
Caroline A.C.X. Medeiros,
Elaine C. Gavioli,
Ana Lúcia F. Porto,
Adriano H.N. Rangel
Affiliations
Rhaabe D.S. Gomes
Postgraduate Program in Animal Production, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Macaíba, RN, Brazil
Katya Anaya
Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, 59200-000 Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil; Corresponding author at: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde do Trairi – FACISA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59200-000 Santa Cruz, RN, Brazil.
Alyne B.S. Galdino
Postgraduate Program in Animal Production, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Macaíba, RN, Brazil
Juliana P.F. Oliveira
Rural Health and Technology Center, Federal University of Campina Grande -UFCG, 58428-830 Patos, PB, Brazil
Marco A.S. Gama
Embrapa Gado de Leite, Avenida Eugênio do Nascimento, 610 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
Caroline A.C.X. Medeiros
Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology RENORBIO/ Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences/ Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil
Elaine C. Gavioli
Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil
Ana Lúcia F. Porto
Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171900 Recife, PE, Brazil
Adriano H.N. Rangel
Postgraduate Program in Animal Production, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN, Macaíba, RN, Brazil
Bovine colostrum is a rich source of nutrients and biologically active molecules known to be able to modulate the human immune system, such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, immunoglobulins and growth factors. This comprehensive review aimed to gather evidence from animal experimentation and clinical trials that investigated the potential effects of bovine colostrum in preventing and treating diseases that affect the human gastrointestinal tract. Considered safe for human consumption, BC or its isolate components were used against a range of different gastrointestinal disorders. Beneficial effects were observed in several conditions: gastrointestinal infections, infectious diarrhoea, drug-induced lesions, gut-barrier malfunction, and inflammatory bowel disease. Under proper processing to maintain its components' integrity, BC products are valuable supplements with high nutraceutical value, capable of promoting and restoring gastrointestinal health.
