Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on serum IGF-I, IgG, hormone, and saliva IgA during training

Mero, Antti, Heidi Miikkulainen, Jarmo Riski, RaimoPakkanen, Jouni Aalto, and Timo Takala. Effects of bovinecolostrum supplementation on serum IGF-I, IgG, hormone, and saliva IgAduring training. J. Appl. Physiol.83(4): 1144-1151, 1997.The purpose of this study was to examinethe effects of bovine colostrum supplementation (Bioenervi) on seruminsulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), immunoglobulin G, hormone, andamino acid and saliva immunoglobulin A concentrations during a strengthand speed training period. Nine male sprinters and jumpersunderwent three randomized experimental training treatments of 8 daysseparated by 13 days. The only difference in the treatments was thedrink of 125 ml consumed per day. Posttraining increases were noticedfor serum IGF-I in the 25-ml Bioenervi treatment (125 ml contained 25 ml Bioenervi) and especially in the 125-ml Bioenervi treatment (125 mlcontained 125 ml Bioenervi) compared with the placebo (normal milkwhey) treatment (P < 0.05). The change in IGF-I concentration during the 8-day periods correlated positively with the change in insulin concentration during the sameperiods with 25-ml Bioenervi treatment(r = 0.68;P = 0.045) and with 125-ml Bioenervitreatment (r = 0.69;P = 0.038). Serum immunoglobulin G,hormone, and amino acid and saliva immunoglobulin A responses weresimilar during the three treatments. It appears that a bovine colostrumsupplement (Bioenervi) may increase serum IGF-I concentration inathletes during strength and speed training.