Can bovine colostrum (BC) replace IVIG in myeloma? Can myeloma patients experiencing weakened immune systems after numerous rounds of chemotherapy, take BC rather than IVIG?
The studies linked below, in my estimation, say two things.
- First, BC is rich in immunoglobulins and is an excellent nutritional food to support the immune system in general.
- Secondly, BC varies in content in many ways. IVIG is an FDA approved therapy. MM survivors should let their oncologists use therapies that can be measured in specific ways.
Can bovine colostrum be used in the place of IVIG therapy?
Bovine colostrum (BC) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy serve different medical purposes, and while both are linked to immune support, they are not interchangeable.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Therapy
IVIG therapy involves the infusion of immunoglobulins (antibodies) collected from the plasma of thousands of donors. It is used to treat a range of immune disorders, such as:
- Primary immune deficiencies (e.g., common variable immunodeficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia)
- Autoimmune diseases (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy)
- Certain infections (for passive immunity when a patient’s immune system is compromised)
IVIG provides immediate antibodies, specifically tailored for modulating immune response, neutralizing pathogens, and providing passive immunity.
Bovine Colostrum
Bovine colostrum is the nutrient-rich first milk produced by cows after giving birth, and it contains antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients. BC is promoted for its immune-boosting properties, gut health support, and anti-inflammatory benefits, particularly in:
- Improving gut health (e.g., managing conditions like leaky gut, and supporting gut barrier function)
- Promoting recovery from infections (as it contains immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and growth factors)
While bovine colostrum is beneficial for general immune support, gut health, and potentially helping with mild infections, it lacks the specificity and potency required for treating the serious and often life-threatening conditions for which IVIG is prescribed. The concentration of immunoglobulins in bovine colostrum is much lower than that in IVIG, and the types of immunoglobulins differ (colostrum contains IgG1, IgA, IgM, etc., but not in the highly purified form of IVIG).
Key Differences:
- IVIG: Tailored for medical treatment of immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. Administered intravenously for quick and potent effects.
- Bovine Colostrum: Used as a supplement for general immune enhancement and gut health. Orally consumed and not used in clinical situations requiring rapid or specific immune responses.
In conclusion, bovine colostrum should not be used in place of IVIG therapy. While BC can support general immune health, IVIG is a highly specialized treatment for conditions that require precise immunoglobulin therapy. If you’re considering alternatives to IVIG or supplements like bovine colostrum, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider.
Though BC is in many ways, the perfect food, it is not consistent. And the MM patient going through round after round of chemotherapy may have a depleted immune system. This MM patient must rely on his/her oncologist to use any and all therapies to reduce the risk of infection.
David Emerson
“When Maternal Colostrum Falls Short: The 5 Q’s of Colostrum Management
Maternal colostrum is often called “nature’s perfect food” for good reason. Maternal colostrum can have nearly double the fat content of whole milk, greater than 4× the protein content, and contains well over 250× the Ig content of mature milk (Blum and Hammon, 2000).
However, MC is not always perfect. This may be due to cow or management factors, but it is important to know the reasons which cause MC to fall short. It is common to assess MC using 3 to 5 criteria which help to determine its acceptability as a feedstuff for newborn calves.
For the sake of this review, this will be discussed as the 5 Q’s of Colostrum Management: Quality, Quantity, Quickness, Quite Clean, and Quantification ()…”
“Indeed, a large number of studies in infants and adults have shown that bovine IgG (or colostrum as a rich source thereof) can prevent gastrointestinal tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, and LPS-induced inflammation. These studies vary considerably in target group, design, source of bovine IgG, dosage, and endpoints measured making it hard to draw general conclusions on effectiveness of bovine immunoglobulin rich preparations..”
“Immune-based therapies, including the anti-CD38 antibody daratumumab (Dara), and most recently bispecific antibodies (BsAb) targeting CD3 and BCMA, GPRC5D or FCRH5 are increasingly important strategies used to treat Multiple Myeloma.
However, there are concerns that the prolonged use of these therapies predisposes patients (pts) to increased rates of infection, partly due to hypogammaglobulinaemia.
To this date, most clinical trials on Dara and BsAb do not consistently capture rates of hypogammaglobulinaemia and leaves the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) as prophylaxis to individual investigator discretion. There are currently a paucity of studies documenting IVIg as a means to reduce infection risk in these pts…”