The effect of bovine colostrum on viral upper respiratory tract infections in children with immunoglobulin A deficiency.

INTRODUCTION

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)-deficient patients predominantly suffer from respiratory and gastrointestinal infections since secretory IgA has important functions to protect mucosal surfaces.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of bovine colostrum, rich in IgA, on the treatment of viral upper respiratory tract (URT) infections in IgA-deficient children.

METHODS

Thirty-one IgA-deficient children with viral URT infections were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, and randomly oral bovine colostrum or placebo was given three times a day for 1 week. Samples of saliva IgA were collected before treatment, after the administration of the first dose, and after the last dose. Mothers of the children completed a daily questionnaire regarding the severity of the infection and any adverse effects.

RESULTS

The bovine colostrum group had a lower infection severity score than the placebo group after 1 week (respectively 0.81±0.83, 3.00±1.85; P=0.000), but there was no difference between the salivary IgA levels of the groups.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to evaluate the effect of bovine colostrum in IgA-deficient children, and no adverse effects were observed. However, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of bovine colostrum in IgA-deficient patients.