Sequence Colostrum 200mg, First Milking, Rich in Immune and Growth Factors, 50g

Sequence Colostrum 200mg, First Milking, Rich in Immune and Growth Factors, 50g Details

An effective anti-aging and performance-enhancing product, our colostrum powder is incredibly versatile. It can be mixed into foods or drinks (think yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, or a protein shake) or even applied topically to aid in the faster healing of cuts, abrasions, and minor skin and gum irritations.

For topical use, mix powder with a little water to make a thick paste and apply to the affected area. Let dry to form a protective barrier. Reapply every few hours as required.

Sequence Colostrum 200mg, First Milking, Rich in Immune and Growth Factors, 50g Features and Benefits

Colostrum is truly nature’s perfect immune-enhancing and anti-aging superfood!

The two main groups of components responsible for the beneficial effects of colostrum are immune factors and growth factors. These powerful, all-natural components work in concert to enhance immune system function and support cellular growth and repair.

As we age, our bodies gradually produce less and less of these powerful immune and growth factors that help fight disease, repair body tissue and promote energy and vitality. With the decline of these components over time, we age until we eventually die. Colostrum is the only natural source of these life-supporting immune and growth factors!

The immune factors in colostrum include antibodies that provide immunity from numerous microorganisms. Other immune factors work together to kill bacteria and viruses, regulate the thymus gland, control inflammation, protect against allergic reactions, balance and nourish the immune system.

The growth factors in colostrum are responsible for rebuilding and repairing cellular tissues. These growth factors also help to build lean muscle, increase at metabolism, improve nutrient uptake, improve memory and mood, increase skin elasticity, balance blood sugar levels and increase energy.

Does this all sound too good to be true? Few natural supplements have as much medical research supporting its value as colostrum. There are literally thousands of published clinical and scientific research studies proving the health-benefiting properties of colostrum. Here are just a few of the documented benefits of colostrum:

• Enhances overall immune system and helps boost natural resistance to illness and disease
• Provides anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal protection, creating unfavorable conditions for growth of numerous harmful microorganisms including those responsible for common health problems such as colds, influenza, diarrhea, ulcers, gum disease, and yeast infections
• Regulates numerous auto-immune conditions including allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease
• Improves state of chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, colitis, irritable bowel, leaky gut syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and HIV
• Acts as an antioxidant to reduce the damaging effects of free radicals
• Binds and transports iron in the body and is beneficial for iron-deficiency anemia
• Heals digestive system and enhances nutrient absorption
• Helps speed healing of wounds
• Enhances lean muscle mass and increases metabolism of body fat

What is Colostrum?

Life’s perfect first food, colostrum is the pre-milk fluid produced by all female mammals prior to giving birth.

Naturally rich in immune and growth factors, colostrum helps insure the health of the newborn. We all know newborns fare better when able to obtain colostrum through breastfeeding but did you know that people of all ages can benefit from taking colostrum? Colostrum has applications for every generation and it’s never too late to start receiving the benefits of life’s first food.

Since collecting human colostrum is unrealistic, the next best source is bovine (cow) colostrum as it is nearly identical to that of human’s. In fact, research proves bovine colostrum can enhance immune system function and support growth and repair in all mammals, including humans. In addition, cows produce an abundance of colostrum, more than enough to supply human needs without depriving newborn calves.

Historically, bovine colostrum has played a significant role in natural healing. In India, Ayurvedic physicians have prescribed it for thousands of years and still do to this day. In Western medicine, bovine colostrum was used extensively for immune purposes prior to the invention of antibiotics and sulfa drugs. In fact, did you know that the Polio vaccine was developed from antibodies isolated from bovine colostrum?

Over the past few years, the scientific community has “rediscovered” this all-natural immune and growth-supporting food. Thousands of clinical and research studies have been published on the use of colostrum and its components to treat a variety of diseases and health concerns.

Production of Colostrum

Source and Collection

The source of colostrum is one of the most important factors to consider when evaluating different brands of colostrum. We encourage everyone to investigate fully the background of any colostrum product before administration.

At Sequence, our first milking colostrum is obtained only from the finest local, small family dairy herds in North America. Appropriate collection receptacles are supplied to the dairy producers for saving first milking colostrum from healthy cows. This must be the cows' third or subsequent lactation. We only use colostrum collected within the first six hours after birth.
Immediately after milking, the filled jugs are put in the producer's freezer and kept frozen until collection by a representative of our raw materials supplier, or in a few instances, delivered to the company plant by the producer. Colostrum must arrive at the company in a frozen state, unless freshly milked, where it is inspected by trained personnel and placed in a freezer and maintained at -5 degrees F +/- 5 degrees.

Our raw materials supplier has on file affidavits from each owner/operator of contributing dairy farms, stating that their animals have not and are not being fed restricted proteins as set out in 21 CFR 589.2000. Each container of colostrum harvested from these dairies has also been recorded as having come from cows not fed illegal feeds.

Processing

Processing of colostrum is the second most important factor in the quality of colostrum. Our raw materials supplier has developed its own means of processing colostrum and has an FDA approved proprietary pasteurization process that is more effective than standard pasteurization processes at maintaining biological activity. We also homogenize our product for uniformity.
First milking colostrum is naturally rich in fats, making up about 20-25% of total solids. Fats serve as the critical transporter (or surrogate) for the the powerful growth factor IGF-1. With the exception of our liquid, all our colostrum products have all naturally occurring fats intact for the greatest anti-aging benefits.

The drying or dessication process is another important factor in maintaining biological activity. Our powder-based products are spray dried at low temperatures by indirect heat using proprietary equipment and processes. We know the length of time in seconds our product is in the drying process and the exact temperature that it reaches in this process. Our first milking colostrum powder maintains virtually all of its original bioavailibility throughout the manufacturing process.

Finished Products

Finished products are exactly identified and stored at ambient temperature. Composite samples are evaluated for quality assurance and logged in permanent records. Sequel Natural’s genuine first milking bovine colostrum is produced using proprietary specifications and processes that assure the highest levels of biological activity, guaranteeing the greatest value for your dollar.

Quality Assurance

For your safety and peace of mind, all our colostrum products are made in GMP certified and/or FDA licensed facilities under the strictest of quality standards. Every batch of product is tested and certified to be free of any harmful pathogens by independent laboratories.

Components of Colostrum

Growth Factors

Bovine colostrum is naturally rich in powerful growth factors including Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor (TGF) and epithelial growth factor (EGF). These natural growth factors help slow down the effects of aging on a cellular level, resulting in benefits such as increased energy and vitality, greater lean muscle mass, increased fat metabolism and weight loss, improved memory and elevated mood.

Immunoglobulins

Immunoglobulins and antibodies are one and the same. IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM are the most abundant of the immune factors found in bovine colostrum. IgG neutralizes toxins and microbes in the lymph and circulatory system, IgM destroys bacteria, while IgE and IgD are highly antiviral.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is one of the most powerful antiviral, antibacterial substances, found naturally, in bovine colostrum and human colostrum.

Additional Components

Cytokines

Cytokines are composed of Interleukins that regulate the intensity and duration of immune responses and are responsible for cell-to-cell communications. They boost T-cell activity, regulate lymph activity, stimulate the production of immunoglobulins and elevation of immune activity, and are antiviral and antibacterial.

Lactalbumin

These are simple, highly nutritious proteins found in mother's milk and colostrum. 

Lactoperozidase-thiocyanate, plus Peroxidase and Xanthine Oxidase Enzymes

These have an antimicrobial activity and nonspecific immunity role such as oxidizing (burning up) bacteria by generating the release of hydrogen peroxide. These are the enzymes found in bovine colostrum. Together with hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate, lactoperoxidase forms a potent natural antibacterial system called the lactoperoxidase system.  Karne J. Losnedahl, Hong Wang, Mueen Aslam, Zou Sixiang, and Walter L. Hurley, Lactation Biology Antimicrobial Proteins in Milk, Illinois Dairy Report 1996.

Lysozyme

Lysozyme is a powerful hydrolyzing agent, resistant to acids that destroy bacteria and viruses on contact. It is found in perspiration, saliva and tears. In recent years, it has been added to infant formula to boost immune capability. Karen J. Losnehahl, Hong Wang, Mueen Aslam, Zou Sixiang, and Walter L. Hurley, Lactation Biology: Antimicrobial Proteins in Milk, Illinois Dairy Report, 1996.

Lysozyme kills bacteria by disrupting the formation of a glycosidic bond between the two components of peptoglycon, a constituent of the bacterial cell wall. Lysozyme possesses antibacterial activity against a number of bacteria. This enzyme usually functions in association with Lactoferrin or immunoglobulin A. Lysozyme is effective against Esherichia coli in concert with Immunoglobulin A (IgA).

It causes lysis of some species of salmonella in association with ascorbate and peroxide. Lysozyme can limit the migration of neutrophils into damaged tissue and might function as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Proline-Rich Polypeptide

Proline-rich polypeptide (PRP) is a hormone in colostrum that regulates the thymus gland. PRP is an immunomodulator, meaning it can stimulate an underactive immune system as well as down-regulate an overactive immune system. This makes PRP an especially important component in the fight against autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and allergies.

Importance of Natural Fats

First milking colostrum is naturally rich in fats, making up about 20-25% of total solids. Fats serve as the critical transporter (or surrogate) for the the powerful growth factor IGF-1. When purchasing colostrum, ensure all its naturally occurring fats are kept intact for the greatest anti-aging benefits.

Unfortunately, most brands of colostrum have most of their fats removed. Removal of the natural fats from colostrum is primarily done for a number of reasons. The main purpose is to artificially elevate the IgG percentage in colostrum, thus making it "appear" to be harvested from the first or earlier collections. Another reason is to hide the rancid odor of poor quality, mishandled, or old colostrum. All else being equal, fat-free colostrum is more shelf stable and offers a longer shelf life. Lastly, fat-free colostrum mixes more easily with and dissolves more quickly in water.

Excessive fat is a concern in our diets, as is cholesterol. Genuine first milking colostrum is very low in cholesterol, containing only 1.9 mg of cholesterol per gram of dried colostrum.

Importance of Oral Delivery

Using the proper delivery system is of great importance. The greatest benefits observed in scientific colostrum studies were achieved via oral delivery (absorption in the mouth). Colostrum absorbed in the oral cavity activates the entire body’s immune pathways to open to self-healing.

Because most infectious microorganisms enter the body through the nose or mouth, the oral cavity is specially designed with mucus membranes and salivary glands that secrete powerful immune components. The oral cavity is loaded with receptor sites which, when activated, alert the entire body through a complex chain reaction of immune system events. To maintain good health, it is critical that we are able to stop pathogens at their initial place of entrance and combat disease-causing organisms in the oral cavity before they travel further.

Examples of oral delivery include taking liquid under the tongue, slowly dissolving a lozenge or eating/drinking powder mixed with food/beverage. Swallowing capsules is not an ideal form of delivery as it bypasses the key oral receptor sites and misses the natural protease inhibitors, buffers, mucous secretions, hormones, enzyme, sensors and receptors. Essentially, it is delivered into the stomach without protection of any kind.

The gelatin capsule is then dissolved and the full effects of the stomach acid are applied to the colostrum components. It then is exposed to the rather basic bile salts in the duodenum and throughout the entire small intestine before it reaches the Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) near our appendix, where the primary response of the capsule ingested colostrum comes about. Much of the colostrum components could now be altered or denatured, and dilute or render them less effective. To compensate, a much larger dose of colostrum would have to be consumed to produce the same effective results. A better alternative would be to open capsules and take the colostrum orally.

Lozenges, on the other hand, which are designed to be held inside the mouth for several minutes, are an ideal route for taking colostrum. Why? Because the oral cavity is the gate of entry into the body's communication network.

As a child, calf, foal, puppy or kitten nurses colostrum floods the oro-nasal pharyngeal cavity exposing the secretion to the many receptor sites. These receptor sights form a variety of communication pathways that distribute signals to various parts of the body. Part of the pharyngeal region contains lymphoid cells, tonsils, referred to as MALT, Mucosal Associated Lymphoid Tissue. This is the same type of tissue as the lymphoid tissue near the illio-cecal valve termed as GALT.

The great advantage of MALT over GALT is that MALT is present early on, before any digestive processes start to alter the colostral components as in GALT. MALT is also protected by many of the buffers, enzymes, mucous and other protective properies so secreted by glands in the oro-naso pharyngeal lamina propria.

Importance of First Milking
While sometimes called “first milk”, colostrum is actually a pre-milk substance since milk is produced after colostrum. Birth is the event that stops colostrum production and triggers the creation of milk. All else being equal, the sooner after birth colostrum is collected, the higher its quality (measured as percentage of protein) and corresponding levels of immune and growth factors.

The highest quality colostrum is usually collected within the first six hours after birth. This is referred to as first milking colostrum and it is the closest thing to pure colostrum, which is only available immediately after birth. Colostrum from subsequent milkings, if blended with the first, compromises the delicate balance of immune and growth factors found only in first milking colostrum.

Only first-milking colostrum is ever used in clinical and scientific research studies as colostrum quality declines rapidly after birth. Colostrum harvested twelve hours after birth contains only about one-third of the immune and growth factors present at birth and after twenty-four hours, it is less than one-quarter of its original quality.

As little as 125mg of genuine, first-milking colostrum delivered via the oral cavity is sufficient to trigger an immune response. Several times that amount may be required with conventional multiple-milking products. Most colostrum products on the market are a combination of the first five milkings, collected up to 48 hours after birth.

The following table shows how quickly the quality of colostrum declines after birth:

As you can see, time of harvest is of key importance in determining the quality of colostrum. If a product does not claim its source to be from only the first milking, likely it is not. Or, if it cannot back up its claims to be from only the first milking with a certificate of analysis done by an independent laboratory, it is likely not true first milking colostrum.

Genuine first milking colostrum can cost several times as much as colostrum taken from a combination of subsequent milkings. Keep in mind that only the highest quality, first-milking colostrum is used in the thousands of clinical and scientific research studies. Colostrum collected from multiple milkings may not provide the desired results.

Scientific Definition of Colostrum

Colostrum is the first lacteal secretion produced by the mammary glands of mammals at the beginning of lactation and is intended for ingestion by the newborn during the first hours of life. In most mammals, such as humans, many of the biologically active substances essential to development and survival, such as growth promoting substances and immunoglobulins, cross the placental barrier and are transferred to the fetus in utero. In sharp contrast, in bovine essentially none of these biologically active substances cross the placental barrier and, thus, must be acquired by the calf through suckling during the early hours of its life. As such, bovine colostrum represents a unique, concentrated resource for a wide variety of biologically active substances.

Colostrogenesis, the formation of colostrum, and lactogenesis, the process which mammary tissue undergoes when changing from a non-lactating to a lactating state, are events associated with pregnancy that are controlled by a specific complex of hormones and influenced by physical factors associated with the mammary gland. In the cow, development of mammary tissue and its ability to synthesize and produce secretions is promoted primarily by growth hormone and its mediators, the insulin-like growth factors IGF-1 and IGF-2 and the transforming growth factors TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2. The process is regulated by a series of other hormones, one of the most important being progesterone, which attaches to special receptors on the cells lining the mammary gland and prevents them from secreting any fluids into the gland during most of pregnancy.

The formation of colostrum in the pregnant cow is initiated about 3-4 weeks before parturition (birth) when a limited amount of fluid is released into the developing mammary tissue containing small amounts of the growth factors and other transforming substances. These substances influence the appearance of specific receptors on the surface of the cells lining the mammary gland that will facilitate the transfer of materials from the mother's blood into the gland. The substances include, among others, the IgG (antibodies) necessary to convey passive immunity to the calf and various hormones and growth promoters required to induce development of the newborn calf.

About two weeks before birth, the receptors for IgG become fully active. IgG from the mother's blood attaches to the receptors and is transferred via special vessels through the cells into the fluid in the gland. The IgM and IgA found in colostrum are actually produced by cells (B cells) from the mother's immune system that have moved into the mammary tissue. These molecules are transferred into the fluid in the gland by a similar receptor mechanism. The additional receptors on the cells lining the mammary gland capable of transporting other substances become fully activated about 3-5 days before birth.

About 2 days before birth, the hormonal balance begins to shift when the mother's blood concentration of prolactin and glucocorticoid hormones increases sharply, overriding some of the inhibitory effects of progesterone. This initiates the production of copious secretions and switches on the ability of cells in the mammary tissue to synthesize various substances, including lactose.

At birth, when the placenta is eliminated, progesterone levels fall dramatically in the mother and its inhibitory control of the secretions is removed. Simultaneously, a protein-based substance develops in the cells lining the mammary gland that essentially blocks any further transfer of substances from the mother's blood into the gland.

The composition of the fluid in the mammary gland at birth is that of true colostrum and reflects the functional changes that have occurred in the gland up to that time; it a) has a high protein concentration, most of which is IgG; b) contains the highest concentration of growth promoters, other hormones and additional metabolically active substances; c) is low in lactose content; and d) is rich in milk fat.

In addition to containing a high concentration of maternally-derived immunoglobulins, first milking bovine colostrum contains a number of other biologically active substances. Although all of these substances have not as yet been characterized, many of the seemingly most important ones have been identified, including, among others, the following:

Insulin-like growth factors that act on various metabolic processes that affect the uptake of glucose to derive a source of energy and utilization of amino acids to build proteins by cells in the body.
Subunits of the hormone thymosin that act independently and in concert on the thymus gland to stimulate development and activation of the immune system.
Cytokines that stimulate the development and activation of various cells associated with the immune system.
Lactoferrin and transferrin, which are proteins that bind iron and act primarily in the gut to impede the growth of certain potentially pathogenic aerobic bacteria, like E. coli.
Xanthine oxidase and lactoperoxidase, which are enzymes that can inhibit the growth of certain potentially pathogenic bacteria in the gut.

After birth, one of the most influential factors on the composition of subsequent secretions is physical removal of the fluid from the mammary gland. The removal of even small quantities of fluid triggers the production of copious amounts of secretion from the cells in the mammary gland.

Since the transfer of biologically-active substances from the mother's blood is blocked, replacement fluid will contain primarily substances synthesized by cells in the mammary gland and, thus, will be of a different composition than the fluid originally contained in the mammary gland at birth. This fluid is known as transitional milk. The more original fluid, which is true colostrum, that is removed, the more adulterated the residual fluid becomes with transitional milk.

This becomes more complex since the mother's system will begin to reabsorb certain of the biologically-active substances, including some of the hormones and the immunoglobulins, from the mammary gland back into her bloodstream within 6-8 hours after birth of her calf. Therefore, the composition of the mammary secretions changes rapidly during the hours and days after birth so that there is a continuous transition from true colostrum to mature milk.

The average yield of colostrum taken from a mature Holstein dairy cow during the first six hours after birth will be approximately ten liters. This removes about 80% of the true colostrum while the remaining 20% usually cannot be milked out during this period due to the normal congestion of the udder of the mother. After removal of the first harvest, the udder quickly fills with "transitional milk", which is lower in fat and protein and higher in lactose.

The milking taken during the 6-12 hour period after birth again removes about 80% of the lacteal secretions present in the udder, including the 20% residual from the first milking. Again, 20% of this "colostral" material remains and is further diluted as the udder refills with "transitional milk". The only unadulterated true colostrum is, therefore, derived upon harvesting the first milking from the mother within six hours after birth and before the calf has suckled.

To assure that calves receive sufficient quantities of high quality true colostrum, most dairy producers in the United States do not allow the calf to suckle its mother immediately after birth, but prefer to physically remove the true colostrum, and feed the required amount by nursing bottle. The remainder of this material is what is then used to make colostrum products for human consumption.

What Doctors are Saying

“Antibodies in bovine colostrum are able to neutralize the most harmful bacteria, viruses, and yeasts.”

Dr. Brandtzaeg; Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

“Immunoglobulin in colostrum has been used to successfully treat: Thrombocytopenia, Anemia, Neutropenia, Myasthenia Gravis, Guillain Barre, Multiple Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bullous Pemphigoid, Kawasaki’s Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Crohn’s disease, among others.”

Dr. Dwyer; New England Journal of Medicine

“Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), found in bovine colostrum, stimulates bone and muscle growth and nerve regeneration. Also found: topical administration to wounds resulted in more effective healing.”

Drs. Skottne, et al; Paediatric Scandinavia, Sweden

“Clinical studies show that immunoglobulin found in bovine colostrum, may be responsible for regulating allergic response.”

Drs. Tortora, et al; Microbiology

“Proline Rich Polypeptide (PRP) in bovine colostrum has the same ability to regulate activity of the immune system as hor- mones of the Thymus gland. It activates an underactive immune system and also suppresses an overactive immune system, such as is often seen in the autoimmune diseases.”

Drs. Staroscik, et al; Molecular Immunology

“Colostrum contains significant amounts of Interlukin-10 (a strong inflammation inhibitory agent), found significant in reduc- ing inflammation in arthritic joints and injury areas."

Dr. Olle Hernell, Univ. of Ulmea, Sweden; Science

“Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein in colostrum, can bind free iron with high affinity and thus function as a local antioxidant, protecting immune cells against free radicals.”

Dr. Britigan, et al; Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology