Prevention of Influenza Episodes With Colostrum Compared With Vaccination in Healthy and High-Risk Cardiovascular Subjects : The Epidemiologic Study in San Valentino

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of oral bovine colostrum in prevention of influenza episodes as compared to influenza vaccination in both healthy individuals and in very-high risk cardiovascular individuals

Protocol: For part one, 144 total healthy individuals of both sexes between 30 and 80 years of age were divided into four groups: 1) no vaccine and no colostrum, 2) no vaccine but placed on colostrum, 3) vaccine but no colostrum, and 4) vaccine plus colostrum. For part two, 65 individuals with high-risk cardiovascular conditions (no age range reported) were divided into three groups: 1) vaccine but no colostrum, 2) vaccine plus colostrum, and 3) no vaccine but placed on colostrum. The colostrum was provided as 400mg in chewable tabled consumed daily for 2 months.

Results: For part one, colostrum reduced the number of flu episodes compared to those who did not receive colostrum, and those who did not receive colostrum but received a flu vaccination. Relative costs (mainly lost working days) was significantly lower in the colostrum groups. For part two, both colostrum groups had lower flu episodes, hospital admissions, and relative costs.

Conclusion: Colostrum, both in healthy subjects and high-risk cardiovascular patients, was effective in reducing the overall impact of influenza on both sick days and associated costs.

Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17456621/