Colostrum in Supplements for Children

Colostrum is the first human milk produced by the mother after childbirth. It is rich in immunological components such as secretory IgA, IgG antibodies, lactoferrin, leukocytes, and growth factors. In recent decades, the benefits of using bovine colostrum to improve human health have been supplemented, as it positively affects immune defense and gastrointestinal health through its bioactive components. Despite all these facts about human and bovine colostrum and their immunomodulating components, knowledge about the effects of bovine colostrum for the treatment and prevention of infections in children is still limited, and further research in the field is needed. This review aims to present the latest data on the use of bovine colostrum and lactoferrin in the pediatric population, obtained from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews. Additionally, we present our experience with a supplement containing lactoferrin in children with symptomatic acute respiratory infection, monitored in outpatient settings.