Modulation of human humoral immune response through orally administered bovine colostrum

Eighteen healthy volunteers were randomized into two treatment groups and c onsumed liquid prepackaged bovine colostrum whey and placebo for 7 days. On days 1, 3 and 5, an attenuated Salmonella typhi Ty21a oral vaccine was giv en to all subjects to mimic an enteropathogenic infection. The circulating antibody secreting cells and the expression of phagocytosis receptors of th e subjects before and after oral immunization were measured with the ELISPO T assay and flow cytometry. All subjects responded well to the vaccine. No significant differences were observed in ELISPOT values for IgA, IgG, IgM, Fc gamma and CR receptor expression on neutrophils and monocytes between th e two groups, There was a trend towards greater increase in specific IgA am ong the subjects receiving their vaccine with bovine colostrum. These resul ts suggest that bovine colostrum may possess some potential to enhance huma n special immune responses. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.