Bovine
milk antibodies for health.
Korhonen H, Marnila
P, Gill HS.
Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Food Research, FIN-31600
Jokioinen,
Finland. hannu.j.korhonen@mtt.fi
The immunoglobulins
of bovine colostrum provide the major antimicrobial protection against
microbial infections and confer a passive immunity to the newborn
calf until its own immune system matures. The concentration in colostrum
of specific antibodies against pathogens can be raised by immunising
cows with these pathogens or their antigens. Immune milk products
are preparations made of such hyperimmune colostrum or antibodies
enriched from it. These preparations can be used to give effective
specific protection against different enteric diseases in calves and
suckling pigs. Colostral immunoglobulin supplements designed for farm
animals are commercially available in many countries. Also, some immune
milk products containing specific antibodies against certain pathogens
have been launched on the market. A number of clinical studies are
currently in progress to evaluate the efficacy of immune milks in
the prevention and treatment of various human infections, including
those caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Bovine colostrum-based
immune milk products have proven effective in prophylaxis against
various infectious diseases in humans. Good results have been obtained
with products targeted against rotavirus, Shigella flexneri, Escherichia
coli, Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus mutans, Cryptosporidium
parvum and Helicobacter pylori. Some successful attempts have been
made to use immune milk in balancing gastrointestinal microbial flora.
Immune milk products are promising examples of health-promoting functional
foods, or nutraceuticals. This review summarises the recent progress
in the development of these products and evaluates their potential
as dietary supplements and in clinical nutrition.
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