Entretenimento
Best Colostrum Supplement: Experts Dish on Nature’s ‘Liquid Gold’
In the eternal quest to optimize our wellbeing, perhaps little piqued the world’s interest more than colostrum. In order to uncover the best colostrum supplement, we first need to understand what colostrum is and what it does. Claimed to be a dose of “liquid gold” that optimizes immune, gut, and overall health, it’s the nutrient-rich first milk that mothers—mammals, including humans—produce in the first few days after giving birth.
“This concentrated milk is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and growth factors, and is important for building a newborn’s immunity and healthy GI tract,” explains nutrition and health expert Gerda Endemann, PhD. “It contains oligosaccharides, which are specific carbohydrates that work as food for the intestinal flora, as well as IgA and IgG antibodies, white blood cells, and a protein called lactoferrin—all which can help prevent infections.”
Vogue’s Favorite Colostrum Supplements:
Armra Colostrum™ Powder
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Cymbiotika Liquid Colostrum
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Pure Encapsulations Colostrum
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These incredible benefits are now being looked at for adults. “While limited, there is some scientific research suggesting that bovine colostrum can support immunity, gut health, and athletic performance due to its concentrated content of immunoglobulins, antibodies, and growth factors,” explains registered dietitian Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN.
We asked the experts to lay out everything you need to know about colostrum supplements to help narrow down our list to the five best colostrum supplements on the market, below:
In This Story:
Best Overall: ARMRA Colostrum Powder
- Why We Love It: ARMRA colostrum was developed by a double board-certified pediatric neurologist after experiencing her own personal health crisis—and is one of Dua Lipa and holistic nutritionist Chelsey Wilkens’s top choices. “I recommend a colostrum supplement like ARMRA that’s hormone-free, from the first day milking, and pasteurized at low heat to preserve nutrients,” says Wilkens, who has been taking a scoop of morning colostrum for the past seven months. “It’s amazing because of its quality sourcing and its liposomal delivery to help increase absorption.” The brand uses a proprietary Cold-Chain BioPotent Pasteurization Technology to ensure the colostrum’s 400-plus bioactive nutrients remain entirely bioavailable. The formula is made from the surplus production of colostrum (which is typically considered a waste product in the dairy industry) sourced from grass-fed cows on family-owned dairy farms in the U.S. using an upcycling method. According to the brand, cows, unlike humans, produce colostrum in surplus so baby calves only consume about 50% of the colostrum that the mothers produce. And results from the brand’s clinical trials showed 86% of participants experienced less bloating after taking it daily over the course of three months, and 80-87% reported feeling an improvement in their muscle building, endurance, and recovery. For Vogue’s Kiana Murden, who put the viral colostrum supplement to the test for six months, its immunity benefits were most impressive. “I tell all my friends and colleagues who ask me about the supplement that I literally never get sick anymore—a very important point given I usually catch a terrible cold during the frigid, germ-prone New York City winter. But this year, nothing,” she wrote in her review. Proportedly, colostrum’s immune-supporting components (think: immunoglobulins and gut protective properties) theoretically helps reduce the frequency of infections, as board-certified dermatologist Dr. Murphy-Rose shared with Murden. The supplement comes in both a larger jar and individual sachets and has delicious flavors—like vine watermelon or blood orange—as well as unflavored.
- Key Ingredients: Proprietary ARMRA Colostrum concentrate (bovine)
- Best For: Gut health, digestion, immune support, elevated mood, improved skin and hair
- Flavors: Unflavored, vine watermelon, blood orange, peach persimmon, valera pineapple
- Servings: 1 stick (or one scoop)
Best Liquid: Cymbiotika Liquid Colostrum
- Why We Love It: Formulated in a liposomal delivery system to enhance absorption and bioavailability, one of these gel packets a day delivers a dose of colostrum, making it incredibly easy to take—and perfect for arming your gut and immune system while traveling (or during incredibly jam-packed days.) “I frequently recommend colostrum for people who are traveling, to help prevent traveler’s diarrhea, but it’s also great for the gut in general,” says Smith. “Emerging studies have been done not only on colostrum’s support of gut lining health and healing, but also immune function, regarding the immunoglobulins and antimicrobial peptides colostrum contains, which is said to help enhance immune cell activity and promote anti-inflammatory cytokines.”
- Key Ingredients: Whole bovine colostrum, Icelandic sea salt, organic almond butter
- Best For: Supports hair, skin, nails, gut lining, and immune function
- Flavors: Sea salt vanilla
- Servings: 1 packet
Best Capsule: Pure Encapsulations Colostrum
- Why We Love It: A favorite of Smith’s, Pure Encapsulations is known for its clean, safe, efficacious products and rigorous testing for quality assurance across the board. “I love that Pure Encapsulations is hypoallergenic, high-quality, and made without any filler ingredients,” says Smith, who seeks out colostrum for a myriad of reasons. In capsule form, the formula also boasts a high, standardized dose— 40%—of the antibody Immunoglobulin G (IgG), something which Smith says is one of the top things to look for in a good colostrum supplement. “The amount of IgG in a product is a measure of its potency,” explains Endemann. “IgG varies in colostrum because of environmental factors, nutrition, genetics, and the number of hours that have passed since the cow gave birth.”
- Key Ingredients: Bovine colostrum
- Best For: Immune support
- Flavors: N/A
- Servings: 2 capsules
Best Powder: Cowboy Colostrum
- Why We Love It: You may have heard of Cowboy Colostrum from Sofia Richie—it was one of the star ingredients in her much-obsessed-over Erewhon Market smoothie collaboration. Beyond tasting delicious, this powder packs three grams of bovine colostrum without unnecessary additives. “This is a high-quality option that is grass-fed, hormone-free, first day milking, and pasteurized at low heat to preserve nutrients,” says Wilkens. It blends seamlessly into cold drinks and the unflavored option is perfect for mixing into a morning iced coffee or smoothie.
- Key Ingredients: Bovine colostrum, organic monkfruit extract, sea salt
- Best For: Gut health support, immune support, hair growth support
- Flavors: Unflavored, chocolate, vanilla
- Servings: 1 sachet or scoop
Best With Collagen: Bloom Nutrition Bovine Colostrum Powder
- Why We Love It: For those who want to streamline their wellness routine, Bloom’s super powder pairs colostrum with vitamin B12, probiotics, and bovine collagen (type I and III) for an incredible morning boost. The benefits of collagen are many—and they can improve skin, hair, nails, joints, bones, and gut health—and this powder combines two ingredient powerhouses. The powder formula dissolves into with no clumping and tastes amazing—like a strawberry dessert. It is worth noting that it’s manufactured in a facility that processes milk, soy, egg, wheat, fish, sesame, and tree nuts so if you have any serious allergies, it may not be the best option for you.
- Key Ingredients: Bovine collagen, bovine colostrum, vitamin B12
- Best For: Gut health, immune support, hair, skin, and nail support
- Flavors: Unflavored, orange, orange cream, strawberry, strawberries & cream
- Servings: 1 scoop
Everything You Need to Know
Colostrum is the first milk that mammals produce the first few days after giving birth—it’s thicker and yellower than the breast milk that comes in later, which is part of what earned it the “liquid gold” nickname. “It contains high concentrations of polyunsaturated fats, antibodies, protein, growth factors, vitamins, minerals, and more that helps establish an infant’s immune system,” Smith explains. Bovine colostrum supplements, of course, are sourced from a cow’s first milk, but there are other types too. “Most colostrum supplements come from cows, but goat and sheep products are also commercially available,” says Endemann.
Are colostrum supplements worth it?
Colostrum supplements can be worth it depending on what results you’re looking for. Some studies have demonstrated benefits for pre-term infants that have been given their mother’s colostrum. “However, the situation is not quite as clear for commercially available colostrum supplements, primarily bovine, that are being used to support immunity and gut health,” explains Endemann. “But it’s an appealing prospect—that we can easily buy concentrated antibody supplements that may help fight infections.” As with anything, it should be used as a boost instead of a fix-all.
What are the benefits of colostrum supplements?
Colostrum has been touted for many benefits, including strengthened immunity, hair-growth support, glowier skin, decreased bloating, and improvement over other gastrointestinal diseases but further studies need to be conducted for any irrefutable evidentiary support.
Promising research is building that short-term supplementation of bovine colostrum may reduce gastric symptoms in those with celiac disease and colitis, and can decrease intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut). One 2024 review suggests it may help have a positive effect on immunity (although it’s worth noting that the study was sponsored by a Chinese biotech company.)
It’s also been used by athletes for leaky gut, stomach distress, and immune support. “Colostrum supplements have been studied for supporting GI health, athletic performance, and preventing diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infections,” says Endemann. “However, colostrum has been shown to be helpful in some research, and not in other cases.” Ultimately more carefully controlled studies are needed to draw any concrete conclusions.
Are there any downsides to taking colostrum?
Although colostrum has widely been regarded as safe for consumption, it’s essential to remember that, as with all supplements, the dietary supplement industry is widely unregulated by the FDA, so you should exercise a level of caution for any supplements (and look out for those claiming to prevent or treat medical conditions). “There is a moderate downside to taking colostrum because it’s not regulated by the FDA,” says Wilkens. “But it’s not really a product that has been misproduced as it’s still so new on the market.” As with starting any new supplement, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications, or have any medical condition, consult your healthcare professional before use.
What to Look for in Colostrum Supplements
Transparency is essential when it comes to all supplementation. “Look for one that has no (or limited) additive ingredients and is manufactured at an approved GMP-certified and FDA-certified facility,” says Smith. “It should also have high IgG content, low heat or cold-processed manufacturing, which help retain most of the benefits, and be grass-fed and antibiotic-free.”
There is also the question of ethics and sourcing. “Some people suggest that by harvesting colostrum, which is only produced for about 1-4 days before milk comes in, the calves who are meant to receive it aren’t receiving the essential nutrients they need when they’re first born,” explains Wilkens. Dr. Sarah Rahal, a double board-certified pediatric neurologist and the founder and CEO of ARMRA, previously told Vogue: “ARMRA upholds a commitment to calf-first sourcing. This means ARMRA only collects overflow colostrum: the surplus remaining after the calves are fully fed and receive all the vital nutrients they need. Typically, this surplus is discarded as an industry waste product; instead, ARMRA upcycles it to ensure the calves’ needs come first and no colostrum goes to waste.”
Who should not take colostrum?
Colostrum supplements are generally considered safe for most people, but there are differences between the cow and human versions of most molecules, which is true for components of colostrum, too. “Dairy colostrum appears to be safe for human consumption, but the benefits and safety are still being established,” explains Endemann. “It is similar, but not equivalent to human colostrum, with much higher casein and antibody levels than the human version. Like human colostrum it contains lactoferrin and growth-promoting and immune regulating cytokines, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), TGF-α, TGF-β, and IGF-1.”
Those with true dairy allergies or lactose intolerance may want to avoid them, especially because it’s a bovine-derived dairy product and has levels of lactose and casein. “Those who are immunocompromised, have histamine intolerances, or autoimmune conditions should also heed caution because it may stimulate the immune system,” says Smith.
- Gerda Endemann, PhD is a nutrition and health expert with over 20 years of experience analyzing scientific research on nutrition, supplements, and health. She holds a BS in nutrition from the University of California at Berkeley and a PhD in nutritional biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has conducted scientific research on heart disease, fat metabolism, and nutrition in academic laboratories and in biotech, and she has served as an adjunct faculty member at Stanford University.
- Isabel Smith, MS RD CDN is a registered dietitian, host of The Wellfuel Podcast, and CEO and founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition.
- Chelsey Wilkens is a holistic nutritionist, cook, and personal trainer based between Austin and Charleston.
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