Colostrum and Clostridium Difficile
C.difficile is a bacteria living in the human intestine in a minority of the population. Broad spectrum antibiotics cause disruption of normal intestinal flora, which is leading to an overgrowth of C.Difficile and this leads to colitis. C.difficile is resistant to most antibiotics and it is growing under these conditions.
Transmission
Clostridium difficile is transmitted through fecal-oral route. Bacteria forms heat-resistant spores and it is acid resistant passing through stomach. It changed in to its active form in the colon and multiply. It was observed that some disinfectants fail to kill this organism and may actually promote spore formation; however, disinfectants containing bleach are effective in killing the organism.
Symptoms and signs
The effects of C. difficile can vary from nothing to diarrhoea of varying severity and much more unusually to severe inflammation of the bowel. Other symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain or tenderness, foul stool odour. . Pathogenic C.dfficile strains produce various toxins, the most characteristic are enterotoxin and cytotoxin. These two toxins are both responsible for the diarrhoea and inflammation seen in infected patients.
How holvita™ colostrum may help against Clostridium Difficile
Our holvita colostrum contains specific antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgM) and other substances that may help the body fights against infection such as clostridium difficile.
Lactoferrin, the iron binding protein, helps to deprive bacteria of the iron they require to reproduce. Drs.Sanchez, et al, Biological Chemistry says: “ Concentration of Lactoferrin and Transferrin in bovine colostrum found necessary to transport iron into blood. Highest concentrations of both substances were found in the first milking after birth....”.
Growth factors help to regenerate intestinal lining damaged by bacteria infections and to improve the uptake of nutrients. Proline-Rich Polypeptide (PRP) regulates the thymus gland [body's central command for the immune system], and has the ability to stimulate under-active immune system in immuno-defficient people, such as people infected with clostridium difficile, and helping it move into action against disease-causing organism. PRP is also highly anti-inflammatory and also appears to act on T-cell precursors to produce helper T-cells and suppresser T-cells” (Staroscik, et. al., Molecular Immunology).
“PRP turns white blood cells into functionally active T-cells. Results were shown in treatment of auto-immune disorders and cancer. An important Immune modulator stimulates an underactive immune system and tones down an overactive one”. Drs. Janusz&Lisowski; Archives of Immunology. Glycoproteins:[ Protease inhibitors] A digestive factor that has been shown to help immune and growth factors survive the passage through the highly acidic digestive system.
References:
Naaber P, Lehto E, Salminen S, Mikelsaar M. Inhibition of adhesion of Clostridium difficile to Caco-2 cells. Institute of Microbiology, University of Tartu, Estonia. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1996 Jul;14(4):205-9.
Warny M, Fatimi A, Bostwick EF, Laine DC, Lebel F, LaMont JT, Pothoulakis C, Kelly CP. Bovine immunoglobulin concentrate-clostridium difficile retains C difficile toxin neutralising activity after passage through the human stomach and small intestine. Gastroenterology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. Gut. 1999 Feb;44(2):212-7.
Kelly CP, Chetham S, Keates S, Bostwick EF, Roush AM, Castagliuolo I, LaMont JT, Pothoulakis C. Survival of anti-Clostridium difficile bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in the human gastrointestinal tract. Evans Memorial Department of Clinical Research, Boston City Hospital, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1997 Feb;41(2):236-41.
Solomons NW. Modulation of the immune system and the response against pathogens with bovine colostrum concentrates. Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, (CeSSIAM), Guatemala City, Guatemala.: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Aug;56 Suppl 3:S24-8
Klapper, D.G.. et. al., 1983, Endocrinology; 112 (6) 2215-7. pp 13-18: Oligo and polysaccharides in colostrum bind many types of bacteria and prevent them from attaching to or entering the body though the mucal membranes.