Summary
Lisa Tamati provides a comprehensive overview of colostrum -- from its biological role as the first milk produced after birth to its therapeutic applications for adults -- before introducing Immunel, a concentrated colostrum whey extract she describes as a fifth-generation super colostrum. She covers colostrum's key components including immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM), growth factors (IGF-1, IGF-2, TGF-beta), lactoferrin, and lysozyme, explaining how each supports immune function, gut health, and tissue repair. The episode highlights multiple clinical studies: a 12-week RCT showing colostrum reduced inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha) in older adults, an 8-week trial where colostrum supplementation produced greater lean muscle mass gains than whey protein, and studies showing colostrum protected against E. coli diarrhea (only 1 of 45 got sick vs 73% in placebo) and improved ulcerative colitis symptoms. Tamati then presents Immunel as the next evolution, citing 34 third-party studies showing it is twice as effective at activating natural killer cells, increased bacterial clearance from pneumonia by 70%, and reduced influenza viral load by 64%.
Key Points
- Colostrum contains 250 times more immunoglobulins than regular milk and is rich in IGF-1, lactoferrin, and growth factors
- A 12-week RCT showed colostrum reduced pro-inflammatory markers CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in older adults
- Colostrum group gained more lean muscle mass than whey protein group in an 8-week resistance training study
- Only 1 of 45 participants taking colostrum got diarrhea after E. coli exposure vs 73% in placebo group
- Colostrum supports thymus gland function, which declines after puberty and is critical for T-cell training
- Colostrum has been used historically in Ayurvedic medicine and documented in ancient Egyptian and Scandinavian cultures
- Immunel is a concentrated colostrum extract with 34 third-party studies showing enhanced immune activation
- Immunel doubled natural killer cell activation and reduced influenza viral load by 64% compared to controls
Key Moments
Colostrum is three times more effective than the flu vaccine
Lisa Tamati explains how colostrum provides passive immunity through immunoglobulins and cites a study showing it was three times more effective than the flu vaccine at preventing influenza.
"and the one that we're talking about today. And then we have also the other that is acquired immunity, and that's developed over time and by being exposed to pathogens. But this is a substance that can give you passive immunity, okay? So in one study, it showed that it had a 3x improvement over the flu vaccine in preventing the flu, okay? So in other words,"
Colostrum reverses thymus gland decline and boosts immune cells
Tamati describes how colostrum supports the thymus gland, which serves as the university for T-cells but shrinks after puberty, and how colostrum can help reverse this age-related decline in immune function.
"It also has the ability to help your thymus gland. Now, the thymus gland is an immune gland on top of the chest here, and it's like the university for your T cells, which are part of your immune system. It's where they go to learn how to respond to different pathogens. And the colostrum actually helps the thymus function."
12-week RCT shows colostrum reduces inflammatory markers in older adults
A gold-standard 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 66 adults found that bovine colostrum reduced pro-inflammatory markers CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, promoting healthful aging.
"And each participant had several immune and inflammatory biomarkers tested through their blood samples. And at the end of the study, the authors concluded that Velostrum reduced several pro-inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha."
Colostrum group gained more muscle than whey protein group
An 8-week RCT comparing 20 grams daily of colostrum versus whey protein in athletes doing identical workouts found the colostrum group had significantly higher increases in bone-free lean body mass, likely due to high IGF-1 content.
"and it was involving aerobic and heavy resistance training, so cardio and strength. And at the end of the eight weeks, they found that the whey protein group had an increase in total body weight. But unexpectedly, the researchers also found that the colostrum group had a much higher increase in bone-free lean body mass, meaning the colostrum group actually put on more muscle than the whey protein group."
Colostrum protected against E. coli diarrhea in clinical trial
A study of 90 adults given bovine colostrum three times daily before E. coli exposure found only one person in the colostrum group developed diarrhea compared to 73% in the placebo group.
"They were given a form of E. coli. So that's something that you can get from bad food or when you're traveling, you know, where you've had traveler sickness and you've got diarrhea. That's usually from an E. coli, right? So they were given this and then they had a look what happened. So they found that only one person in the colostrum group got diarrhea and whereas 73% got it in the placebo group."
