Colostrum and Bacterial infections
What is a Bacteria
Bacteria can be found in every habitat on Earth: soil, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, seawater and deep in the Earth's crust.
Bacteria are simple organisms with a wide-range of shapes, which look like rods, spirals and spheres. They are vital in recycling nutrients, for example the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere. Most bacteria have not been categorised and only half of those can be cultured in a laboratory.
The "Good" and the "Bad" bacteria
There are approximately ten times as many bacterial cells as human cells in the human body, most of them are living on the skin and in the digestive tract. The vast majority of bacteria is harmless or beneficial to immune system, but a few pathogenic bacteria can cause various infectious diseases. In developed countries, where bacterial infectious are treated by antibiotics, bacteria became resistant to antibiotics.
Most common human bacterial infections
Examples of the infectious diseases caused by bacteria include cholera, syphilis, anthrax, leprosy and bubonic plaque, The most fatal are the infections of the respiratory tract, with tuberculosis killing about 2 million people a year. The infections of digestive tract are caused by:
- Clostridium bacteria (C Difficile)
- E.colli
- Helicobacter pylori
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Streptococci
How holvita™ colostrum can help against bacterial infections
“Colostrum contains all four of the key immunoglobulins IgM, IgG, IgA and secretory IgA, the immunoglobulins are equipped with special adaptive sides which are effective at neutralizing a wide range of bacteria, viruses and yeasts.” (Beth M Ley) They include antibodies specific to fight disease-causing micro-organisms.
Colostrum provides specific antibody reactivity to bacteria, viruses and yeast. (Ogra) Most infections diseases enter the body through the mouth or remain localized in mucosal surfaces, primary the stomach or intestinal tract (Weldham) We must be able to combat diseases causing organisms where they attack us.”
Colostrum has been shown to be very effective against bacteria, there is some supporting evidence that colostrum is effective against E.Coli, Streptoccoci, Helicobacter pylori (see Helicobacter Pylori and Gastro-intestinal section) and Clostridium (see Clostridium Difficile) and can in some cases reduce or prevent a bacterial infection. It has also been shown to minimise the side-effects of an bacterial infection by reducing problems.
"The major benefits of immune factors in colostrum and lactoferrin occur within the mouth, stomach and on the intestinal and bronchial walls. Colostrum can benefit people of all ages.”
"Fortunately, colostrum helps us do that. Most of the colostrum antibodies are believed not to be absorbed but remain in the intestinal tract after being swallowed where they fight of intruders. "(Tyrell)
(Beth M. Ley)
Research has shown that colostrum can provide protection against a wide range of pathogens and has been demonstrated, when taken orally, to be effective against disease causing bacteria in the intestinal tract. (McLead)
This makes our holvita™ colostrum highly suitable against bacterial infections due to its high anti-bacterial properties. Our colostrum can be used as prevention against bacterial infections as well as a to fight bacterial infection.
References:
McClead, R. Human clinical study completed using immungolubulins and antibodies from cow colostrum providing its effectiveness against disease-causing bacteria. Presented in 1979 by and Dr. R. McClead and associates at the 89th annual meeting of the American Pediatric Society. It was demonstrated that immune factors in cow colostrum, when taken orally, are effective against disease-causing organisms in the intestinal tract. Their report concludes, “Ignestion of bovine Colostrum immunoglobulins – may be a new method of providing passive immunoprotection against a host of gut-associated antigens.” et. al., 1979, Pediatrics Research, Vol, 13 No. 4, 2 of 2, 464.
Beth M. Ley. Ph.D. Immune System Control: Colostruma and Lactoferrin 2000. p69-70.
Spik,G. et. al., Immunology, Vol. 35 No 4, 663-671. (Bovine) Colostrum contains a special iron binding protein called Lactoferrin which was demonstrated at the Clinical Research \center, Harrow, England to be highly antibacterial.
Bitzan MM; et al, J Infect Dis. April 1998. Inhibition of Hilicobacter pylori and Helicobacter mustelae binding to lipid receptors by bovine colostrum. Results indicate confirmation that colostrum can prevent infection of Helicobacter species bacteria.
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.