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What Are the Benefits of Taking Colostrum Supplements?

Colostrum Supplements Are Trending — But Do They Live Up to the Hype?

April 22, 2025

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You can't peruse TikTok or Instagram lately without spotting an ad or sponsored post about colostrum. And the health and wellness influencers who’ve become proponents are making some pretty lofty claims: that these supplements can boost immunity, improve gut health and digestion, and even aid in recovery from exercise. But are these benefits overblown? What does the research say? We spoke to a handful of registered dietitians and medical doctors to get the full low-down on colostrum supplements.

Here’s what the experts have to say about who should consider taking colostrum, the health-related risks and rewards to consider, and how to find high-quality products.

What Is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the first stage of breast milk that humans, as well as other mammals, receive from their mothers in those initials days after birth. It’s super rich in nutrients including protein, essential vitamins and minerals, immune cells, growth factors, and antibodies.

To be clear, though, the colostrum found in recently trending supplements doesn’t come from humans — but rather, from cows, which is then dried into powders that can be added directly to beverages or made into pills and tablets.

The Benefits of Colostrum

“Initial studies do show some promising perks to colostrum supplements, says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, Chief Medical Advisor for Garage Gym Reviews. However, he notes that research on whether these supplements can benefit humans is still in the somewhat early stages. The jury is still out on how well colostrum supplements can survive the journey through the digestive tract and get absorbed into the bloodstream.

According to Dr. James Lyons, MD, a physician and medical consultant for Synergy Houses, the main benefits of colostrum supplements relate to gut health and immune health.

This is because colostrum is packed with antibodies, growth factors, and nutrients that support the body’s natural defense mechanisms while also supporting tissue repair.

“Colostrum supports gut health in various ways," adds Mia Syn, a registered dietitian nutritionist. “Firstly, it contains growth factors that help stimulate the regeneration and repair of intestinal epithelial cells, which form the protective lining of the gut. Secondly, colostrum contains antibodies that help reduce inflammation in the gut, often associated with gut imbalances. Colostrum also has prebiotic-like effects and helps create a gut environment that supports the growth of beneficial bacteria.”

Not only that, but Dr. Dasgupta notes that colostrum supplements may also help your muscles recover after strenuous activity. Again, that’s because colostrum contains growth factors, which play a crucial role in muscle growth and repair.

So, does science back these benefits? Existing research has shown that colostrum can:

Treat AIDS-related gastrointestinal diseases
Improve overall gut health
Reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation
Prevent and treat diarrhea
Strengthen the gut lining and promote gut tissue repair
Improve exercise capacity

While there isn’t concrete evidence on the following benefits yet, researchers believe that based on the nutritional profile of colostrum, these supplements may be able to:

Support heart health
Combat respiratory disorders
Increase fat burning
Reducing the severity and duration of COVID-19

Who Should Take Colostrum — and Who Shouldn’t

Experts agree that you may be a prime candidate for taking colostrum if you:

Struggle with gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leaky gut, or frequent bloating
Participate in vigorous or strenuous physical activity on a regular basis
Are recovering from illness, surgery, or antibiotic use

A 2021 research review concluded that colostrum supplements may be especially beneficial for people who are immunocompromised. That said, here’s something to keep in mind.

“Colostrum supplements are generally considered safe for most healthy individuals,” says Syn. “But as with any supplement, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider before starting a new regimen, particularly for individuals with underlying medical conditions, compromised immune systems, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.”

According to Syn, Lyons, and Dasgupta, people with a dairy allergy should avoid colostrum supplements, which could trigger a reaction. Keep in mind, too, that although colostrum tends to have much lower lactose levels than regular cow’s milk, you should exercise caution when adding colostrum to your routine if you’re lactose intolerant.

“Starting slowly and monitoring symptoms is best,” says Lyons.

Is It Safe to Take Colostrum Every Day?

While daily colostrum use is safe for most, Dasgupta notes that some people might experience mild digestive issues like bloating or gas when they first start taking it.

“I wouldn’t recommend colostrum long-term, but taking it for a specific gut health reason such as leaky gut can be beneficial,” says Shelley Balls, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Flawless Bloom.

“As long as you're buying from a reputable supplement brand that’s third party tested, though, there shouldn’t be any risks,” she adds.

The Best Colostrum Supplements

Speaking of reputable brands, here’s what to consider when looking for a colostrum supplement.

“It’s important to prioritize purity, potency and transparency — including details about how and where the colostrum is collected and whether the product is verified through third-party testing,” says Syn. Third-party testing basically means that the product was sent to a lab for analysis, and that the company can verify that the supplement’s label is accurate, and that it’s free of harmful contaminants.

“Look for colostrum labeled “first milking” or harvested within the first 24 hours postpartum — this ensures it is rich in immune-supporting compounds,” says Dr. Lyons. “It should be from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows and processed gently (like low-heat drying) to preserve its active ingredients. Products that list their IgG content are ideal. Avoid brands that use fillers and artificial ingredients or do not disclose their sourcing.”

According to Dasgupta, powdered forms tend to be more effective than capsules. ARMRA colostrum is one particularly popular brand that checks all these boxes. t’s one of Dr. Lyons’ top picks because of the clean, transparent ingredient list. From an ethics standpoint, it’s worth noting that the company — which sources colostrum from family-owned U.S. dairy farms — ensures that the calves are fully nourished, only collecting any excess colostrum that’s left over. ARMRA’s products undergo rigorous third-party testing at every stage of the production process. ARMRA also uses a proprietary Cold-Chain Biopotent™ Pasteurization Technology to preserve the colostrum’s over 400 bioactive nutrients while simultaneously eliminating any potentially undesirable compounds.

Some other expert-approved products include:

Sovereign Laboratories’ Colostrum-LD, which comes from grass-fed, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free pasture-raised cows; is flash-pasteurized; and undergoes quality testing
Fasted Athlete Colostrum, which contains no fillers and comes from cows that are sustainably raised with year-round pasture access, no antibiotics, no hormones, and no exposure to toxic chemicals
Cowboy Colostrum, which is sourced from pasture-raised, antibiotic-free, and hormone-free cows after the calves get their fair share

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