Lactoferrin - Mother Nature's Premier Immune-Boosting Protein

The benefits of colostrum for new born babies go far beyond just food nutrients. In fact, colostrum supplements have become widely recognised as beneficial for gut health, immune support and healthy tissue repair at any age. One of the primary biologically active components in both human and bovine colostrum is the iron binding protein lactoferrin.

As a stand alone nutraceutical component, lactoferrin first came into prominence with the release of a research paper about the beneficial role of lactoferrin in AIDS patients. Since then lactoferrin has received extensive attention from research scientists, health practitioners and the general public.

Bovine lactoferrin exhibits a broad range of biological activity including enhancement of immune function, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, promotion of healthy gut flora, regulation of iron metabolism and antioxidant effects. 

Initial research focused on lactoferrin’s iron-binding properties and how that impacts on iron absorption, antimicrobial activity and iron metabolism during inflammation. Lactoferrin appears to be able to enhance iron absorption, but more importantly it improves iron status when iron stores are either too low or too high. This is significant because the majority of infectious microbes require iron to grow and multiply. Lactoferrin binds the free, unbound iron, carrying it away from the sight of the infection, effectively starving the invading microorgamism to death. In areas of inflammation, free iron produces free-radicals that damage body tissues. By binding the iron, lactoferrin reduces the amount of free-radicals in the inflammatory environment. Obviously good news for those with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Lactoferrin’s iron binding abilities also seem to reduce the ironradical stress in people with haemochromatosis.

Recent research indicates lactoferrin may also help regulate and modulate the immune system, supporting the body’s ability to resist post surgical infection, fight the progression of certain cancers, suppress the proliferation of certain viruses, including HIV, and even stimulate bone and connective tissue formation.

(First published in Health & Herbal News Magazine Vol. 17 Issue 1)