Development of a Combined Bovine Colostrum and Immune-Stimulatory Carbohydrate Nutraceutical for Enhancement of Endogenous Stem Cell Activity

ABSTRACT

There is increasing interest in the use of functional foods to activate natural stem cell associated repair pathways resulting in improved health and well-being. Bovine Alpha Lipid colostrum, a proprietary formulation, induced stem cell associated cytokines and growth factor, GCSF, IL-6 and VEGF and also enhanced the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells in vitro. To boost colostrum activity, commercially available natural extracts of immune stimulatory carbohydrates were screened for their capacity to induce GCSF and IL-6. Combining selected extracts with colostrum, showed synergistic cytokine induction in vitro. In a mouse feeding study, a trial formulation of Alpha Lipid colostrum combined with selected carbohydrate extracts, was shown to increase the frequency of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells to a greater extent that was seen with the colostrum alone, as assessed by CFU assay. Furthermore, a pilot human study showed there were alterations in circulating hematopoietic and mesenchymal/stromal stem cell numbers following consumption of the trial formulation compared to subjects receiving a placebo supplement. These data indicate that is possible to influence the endogenous stem cell niche by oral supplementation with a combination of colostrum and highly potent sources of immune stimulatory carbohydrates.

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