Effect of bovine colostrum on anaerobic exercise performance and plasma insulin-like growth factor I.

In this study, we examined the effects of bovine colostrum on peak vertical jump power (VJpeak), peak cycle power (CPpeak), alactic anaerobic work capacity, resistance exercise one-repetition maxima (1-RM) and plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, 51 males completed 8 weeks of resistance and plyometric training while consuming 60 g x day(-1) of bovine colostrum (n = 26) or concentrated whey protein powder (n = 25). Peak vertical jump power, peak cycle power, alactic anaerobic work capacity, 1-RM and plasma IGF-I were not different between groups at baseline (P > 0.33). Peak vertical jump power and peak cycle power were still not significantly different between groups by week 4 (VJpeak: bovine colostrum, 7231 +/- 488 W; whey protein, 7214 +/- 530 W; P = 0.99; CPpeak: bovine colostrum, 1272 +/- 202 W; whey protein, 1232 +/- 208 W; P = 0.99). By week 8, however, peak vertical jump power (bovine colostrum, 7370 +/- 503 W; whey powder, 7237 +/- 481 W; 95% confidence intervals, 54 to 170 W; P < 0.01) and peak cycle power (bovine colostrum, 1400 +/- 215 W; whey protein, 1311 +/- 192 W; 95% confidence intervals, 20 to 61 W; P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the bovine colostrum condition. Alactic anaerobic work capacity and 1-RM increased (P < 0.001), but the increases were not different between groups (P > 0.08). Plasma IGF-I did not change in either group (P = 0.55). We conclude that bovine colostrum supplementation during training significantly increased peak anaerobic power, but had no effect on alactic anaerobic work capacity, 1-RM or plasma IGF-I.