holvita™ Colostrum and drug testing
Research carried out in 2002 by Kuipers (who at the time was a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency ) has shown colostrum to be a safe food substance. The study involved 9 endurance men who ingested 60g of colostrum a day over a four week period showed that there was not change in blood IgF-I or IgF binding proteins -3 levels and did not show positive results on drug tests. The drug testing was overseen by the laboratory of the International Olympic Committee.
This was reiterated in 2008. World Anti Doping Code 2008 Prohibited list (effective 01/01/2008) colostrum is considered by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to be a food substance and so is not prohibited.
Read Kuipers study at the bottom of this page or click here
A interesting discussion with Dr Jon Buckley and Dr Peter Larkins about colostrum supplement for top athletes. They also discuss safety of colostrum. Read the discussion here
Taken from the article mentioned
Peter Larkins:
"The thing is no-one taking colostrum has ever failed a drug test. So if you take steroids you’ll fail the drugs test. If you take amphetamines you’ll fail the drug test, but take colostrum and you don’t fail the drug test. You can’t ban something that’s not been specifically shown to contain a banned substance."
(ABC.NET.AU article, 1 April 2004 )
Dr Jon Buckley
Senior Lecturer
Exercise and Sport Studies
University of South Australia
Dr Peter Larkins
Sports Physician
Melbourne Sports Medicine Centre
Kuipers 2002 study:
Effects of oral bovine colostrum supplementation on serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels.
OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether supplementation with 60 g/d of bovine colostrum affects blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 in relation to doping testing. Nine endurance-trained men ingested 60 g/d of bovine colostrum for 4 wk. METHODS: Blood and urine were sampled before starting supplementation. After 4 wk urine and blood samples were taken after an overnight fast and 2 h after ingestion of the last portion to study possible acute effects. RESULTS: Blood IGF-I levels before supplementation were (mean +/- standard deviation) 31 +/- 13 nM/L, and no acute effects were observed after 4 wk of supplementation (33 +/- 9 nM/L). Levels of IGF-binding protein-3 were 136 +/- 11 nM/L before supplementation and 135 +/- 16 nM/L after 4 wk of supplementation. Two hours after ingestion of the last portion, the level of IGF binding protein-3 was 131 +/- 19 nM/L, which was not different from baseline values. Drug testing in a laboratory accredited by the International Olympic Committee did not show any forbidden substance before or after 4 wk of supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Daily supplementation with 60 g of bovine colostrum for 4 wk does not change blood IGF-I or IGF binding protein-3 levels and does not elicit positive results on drug tests.
References:
Kuipers H, van Breda E, Verlaan G, Smeets R. Effects of oral bovine colostrum supplementation on serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels. Department of Movement Sciences, PO Box 616, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Nutrition. 2002 Jul-Aug;18(7-8):566-7. (Medline) Link here