Author(s): DURKALEC-MICHALSKI, K., GLÓWKA, N., PODGÓRSKI, T., WOZNIEWICZ, M., MALIK, J., WOCHNA, K., NOWACZYK, P.M., Institution: POZNAN UNIVERSITY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, Country: POLAND, Abstract-ID: 2015

INTRODUCTION:
Bovine colostrum (BOV-COL) contains about 100-fold higher concentration of immunoglobulins (Ig) and is more plentiful in lactoferrin than mature milk. It is assumed to be one of the strongest natural immune stimulants. Regular ingestion of BOV-COL may contribute to a decreased risk of upper respiratory tract infections and eventually result in improved physical performance in athletes, especially those exposed to exercise-induced immune disturbances.
METHODS:
Twenty trained endurance male athletes, aged 27.6±8.3 years (body mass 82.9±10.1 kg; height 184±6 cm), completed this double-blind placebo(PLA)-controlled crossover study aimed at investigating the effect of BOV-COL supplementation on resting and exercise-induced changes in selected inflammatory and immunological outcomes in blood (interferon gamma, [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor alfa [TNF-α], interleukin[IL]-6, IL-10, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM) and saliva (secretory IgA [SIgA]). Study participants were supplemented with 25 g∙day-1 of BOV-COL powder and PLA (high-quality milk protein powder) in randomly assigned crossover manner for 12 weeks with 4 weeks of wash-out period. The protocol assumed 4 study visits – before/after supplementation with BOV-COL (BOV-COLPRE and BOV-COLPOST) and PLA (PLAPRE and PLAPOST). At each visit the following evaluations were performed: body mass and composition; resting (REST), post-exercise (POST-EX; 3 min after exercise) and post-short-term-recovery (REC; 1 h after exercise) blood and saliva indices; the incremental test on the rowing ergometer; and the specific performance test (eight 100-meter-long sections to swim through, of which the sections I–III were performed at level of 75% maximal effort [ME], IV–V at 85% ME, VI at 90% ME, VII at 95% ME and VIII at 100% ME). Data were analyzed via RM ANOVA or Friedman ANOVA.
RESULTS:
Significant differences between study visits were found for IL-6 and IgG at POST-EX, and TNF-α at REC. At POST-EX the concentrations of a) IL-6 was lower at PLAPOST compared to PLAPRE (p=0.046; no differences between other visits), and b) IgG lower at BOV-COLPOST compared to BOV-COLPRE (p=0.028; no differences between other visits). At REC, the concentration of TNF-α was lower at PLAPOST compared to PLAPRE (p=0.003; no differences between other visits). However, no significant differences in the analyzed indices were noted between BOV-COL and PLA after supplementation.
CONCLUSION:
Bovine colostrum ingestion had no more beneficial effect than high-quality milk protein (PLA) on the inflammatory and immunological outcomes in trained endurance athletes. The legitimacy of implementing BOV-COL supplementation in athletes require further analyzes and searching for optimal supplementation strategies, including the form of supplement, dosages and duration of supplementation.