TITLE:
Nutraceutical Supplementation Based on Colostrum as Osteoporosis Treatment: A Pilot Study
AUTHORS:
Styliani Ziaka, Tânia Amorim, Maria Vliora, Paraskevi Gkiata, Konstantinos Mantzios, Georgia Ntina, Eirini K.Kydonaki, Vasileios Gkizlis, Yiannis Koutedakis
KEYWORDS:
Nutraceutical Supplementation, Bone Nutrients, Osteoporosis, Bovine Colostrum, Post-Menopausal Women
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
7,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Naturally based treatments for osteoporosis are
currently limited. The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain whether
bovine colostrum supplementation can improve bone health in humans. Methods: In total 63 individuals volunteered in a 4-month supplementation project. They
were stratified into three groups: 1) healthy post-menopausal women (n = 24); 2) individuals with osteopenia (n = 25); 3) people with osteoporosis (n = 14). Participants of each group were
randomly assigned into two experimental sub-groups: a) the bovine colostrum (BC) supplementation (200 mL/day; 5 days/week); b) the placebo sub-group. Before and after the 4-month supplementation,
blood samples were obtained and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured. Dual-Energy
X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) was performed on three different anatomical sites:
lumbar spine (LS), left femur neck (FN), and left forearm (Arm). Bone health
markers (bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide
(CTX-I), deoxypyridinoline (DPD)) as well as immunological markers (interleukin 6 (IL6) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)), were assessed in blood serum with enzyme
immunoassays, at baseline and 4-months after
BC supplementation. Results: No significant changes were found in
bone densitometry factors (p > 0.05), for all studied blood parameters and
their calculated effect sizes. Conclusions: It is concluded that, as
studied herein, BC does not seem to affect human bone health. This pilot study
though warrant the need for further research into the efficacy of BC in
patients with osteoporosis.