Co-administration of the health food supplement, bovine colostrum, reduces the acute non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced increase in intestinal permeability

Aim: To examine whether bovine colostrum could reduce the rise in gut permeability (a non-invasive marker of intestinal injury) caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in volunteers and patients taking NSAIDs for clinical reasons

Protocol: Healthy male participants (n=7) underwent a randomized crossover trial comparing changes in gut permeability before and after 5 days of indomethacin (NSAID) while consuming colostrum (125ml, containing 537.5 mg of protein) or whey protein (control) three times per day. The treatment began two days before the NSAID dosing and continued for the 5 days of NSAID dosing (7 days total). There was a 2-week washout period, where the participants were crossed over to the other treatment arm.

Results: Colostrum was effective in completely blocking the NSAID-induced increase in intestinal permeability as measured by lactulose to rhamnose ratios, whereas the control (whey protein) was not.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that bovine colostrum may provide a novel approach to the prevention of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal damage.

Reference: Playford, et al. Clinical Science. 2001 Jun 1;100(6):627-33.