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Can Bovine Colostrum Replace IVIG in Myeloma?

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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


Colostrum: back to basics with immunoglobulins

“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 ().

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 (Figure 1)…”

Effects of Bovine Immunoglobulins on Immune Function, Allergy, and Infection

“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..”

The Role of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Reducing Infection Risk in Multiple Myeloma (MM) Patients Receiving Immune-Based Therapies: A Single Center Experience

“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…”

 

Leave a Comment:

3 comments
Gaynor Anne Eaketts says last month

Hi David
I have SMM and not on treatment but my red/white cells are climbing. Would you please send me details of the diet and supplements please. Diagnosed April 24 after 10 years MGUS. Thank you so much

Reply
Deborah Rogow says last month

Hi David, Yes, I began regular (every 28-days) IVIG at the same time as I was diagnosed, 5 years ago. The first oncologist kept me on it; the second one did too, but was more ambivalent about it, given that it has some downsides. He suggested that I go off of it, at least for a while, but to wait for a time that I wasn’t also juggling medication/treatment plans. After I had a CAR-T, the oncologist at City of Hope suggested that I stop the IVIG but continue regular IgG testing, and to schedule an IVIG only when my IgG fell below a certain threshhold (I’m not recalling the exact threshhold at the moment.). At the 4-week mark, my IVIG was still reasonable, but at 8wks, it had fallen below the mark. So I’ve scheduled another IVIG for next week (which will be 9-10 weeks from the last one). I never had a problem with IVIG, except for one time when I was recovering from a terribly painful rash, and as soon as I was finishing the IVIG, I had a serious allergic reaction/excruciating rash. But I took the antihistamine for the next few cycles and since then have not had a problem. Your post on bovine colostrum is intriguing, although I am always hesitant to try something that has not been widely tested.

Reply
    David Emerson says last month

    Hi Deborah-

    I began researching the issue hoping that BC would be an inexpensive, side effect free alternative to IVIG. No such luck. BC is not as powerful as IVIG therapy at least for immunoglobulins.

    Thanks for your input.

    David Emerson

    Reply
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