Colostrum is often called \u201cliquid gold\u201d by lactation specialists, midwives and infant-health researchers. It\u2019s the early milk produced in the first days after childbirth: thick, yellow and rich in antibodies, proteins and nutrients.<\/p>\n
Newborn babies benefit greatly from it because their immune systems are not yet fully developed and their stomachs can only hold very small amounts. For babies, there\u2019s no debate: colostrum is incredibly beneficial.<\/p>\n
But some wellness<\/a> brands are marketing colostrum<\/a> to adults. Kourtney Kardashian Barker\u2019s Lemme range sells it as sweet gummies and as a sugar-free liquid supplement<\/a> and creamer.<\/p>\n The appeal is easy to understand. Colostrum has a powerful reputation in infant health<\/a>. If it protects newborns<\/a>, many assume it must offer something extraordinary for adults too \u2013 but does it?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Babies and adults have very different nutritional needs. A newborn\u2019s stomach<\/a> holds only a few millilitres, and their immune system is immature. Colostrum provides highly concentrated immune and nutritional factors that the baby needs in its first days of life.<\/p>\n Adults, by contrast, have fully developed digestive and immune systems and can obtain nutrients from a varied diet. An adult stomach<\/a> holds around one to one-and-a-half litres and expands further after eating. What is essential for a baby is not automatically useful<\/a> or necessary for an adult body.<\/p>\n While colostrum has undeniable benefits in early life, the versions sold to adults are processed, flavoured and taken in much smaller amounts. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to look closely at what these products contain and what their marketing suggests they can do.<\/p>\n Colostrum-based supplements are often promoted using persuasive wellness language and health-related suggestions, but scientific evidence for their effectiveness in adults remains limited, early and often based on small studies involving specific groups rather than healthy people. Here\u2019s a closer look at the ideas behind some of these marketing messages and what research actually tells us.<\/p>\n Gut health, digestion and reduced bloating<\/p>\n Some small studies<\/a> suggest that bovine colostrum might reduce temporary increases in intestinal permeability, sometimes called \u201cleaky gut\u201d, where the lining of the intestine becomes less effective at keeping out bacteria and toxins. These changes can occur after intense exercise or when taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines<\/a>, drugs that can irritate the stomach and gut lining.<\/p>\n However, these studies involved only a small number of participants in specific contexts, not healthy adults in everyday life. The findings are considered preliminary and would require larger, well-designed clinical trials before any conclusions could be drawn about general digestive benefits.<\/p>\n The prebiotic fibres inulin and xylooligosaccharides, sometimes added to supplements, are much better studied. Inulin has been shown to increase levels of beneficial gut bacteria such as bifidobacteria<\/a>, while xylooligosaccharides have been linked to greater bacterial diversity and small improvements in markers related to bowel health, obesity and type 2 diabetes in early research<\/a>.<\/p>\n But these fibres are not unique<\/a> to colostrum-based products. They also occur naturally in foods such as onions, garlic, leeks, bananas and chicory root and are widely available as standalone fibre supplements.<\/p>\n Immune system support<\/p>\n Colostrum helps newborns develop immunity by providing antibodies at a time when their immune systems are still forming. This does not mean that taking colostrum will strengthen a healthy adult\u2019s immune system.<\/p>\n The idea of \u201cboosting\u201d immunity \u2013 a phrase used in promotional material for Kardashian Barker\u2019s Lemme colostrum supplements \u2013 is common in wellness marketing<\/a>, but it can be misleading<\/a>. A healthy immune system doesn\u2019t usually need boosting, and an overactive one can cause harm<\/a> by attacking the body\u2019s own tissues, as happens in autoimmune conditions such as type 1 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.<\/p>\n Some research<\/a> has explored the potential of bovine colostrum in specific conditions, such as ulcerative colitis<\/a> and travellers\u2019 diarrhoea<\/a>. But these studies are small, focus on people who are already unwell and cannot be generalised to the wider population. Anyone with health concerns should seek medical advice before taking any supplement.<\/p>\n In Lemme\u2019s products, references to immune support appear to rely primarily on vitamin D. Vitamin D does help regulate<\/a> the immune system and supports bone health, and low levels are common in winter or in people with limited sunlight exposure. However, vitamin D is inexpensive and widely available as a standalone supplement.<\/p>\n Read more: \u201cFull body wellness\u201d<\/p>\n This is a broad phrase without a specific scientific definition. On the Lemme website, the company states that vitamin D supports healthy bones and teeth, which is accurate, but that benefit is not unique to its colostrum products.<\/p>\n \u201cGlowing skin\u201d<\/p>\n This phrase has appeared in some advertising coverage<\/a> but not on the official product page. \u201cGlowing skin\u201d has no clinical definition and no standard method of measurement. There\u2019s currently no evidence that colostrum, or any of the ingredients in these supplements, produces this effect.<\/p>\n How language influences trust<\/p>\n Lemme\u2019s website includes the standard disclaimer found on most dietary supplements, stating that the products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.<\/p>\n The brand also describes its ingredients as \u201cclinically studied<\/a>.\u201d This is not the same as \u201cclinically proven.\u201d The phrase typically means that an ingredient has been tested in some form of study, but it does not indicate whether the results were positive, significant or relevant to human health.<\/p>\n Research shows<\/a> that consumers often confuse these terms<\/a>. It sounds scientific but does not demonstrate proven efficacy.<\/p>\n
\n Vitamin D deficiency is widespread \u2013 but overusing supplements can also be dangerous<\/a><\/p>\n