Twelve-Week Colostrum Bovinum Supplementation Supports Aerobic Capacity but has No Effect on Body Composition in Endurance-Trained Males: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study.

2025-04-20
European journal of sport science 25(5)
- Krzysztof Durkalec-Michalski
- Natalia Główka
- Tomasz Podgórski
- Krystian Wochna
- Małgorzata Woźniewicz
- Paulina M Nowaczyk

PubMed: 40254930
DOI: 10.1002/ejsc.12288

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: Twenty-eight endurance-trained males aged 31.1 ± 10.2 years (body mass [BM] 81.9 ± 9.0 kg)
Methods: randomized double-blind placebo (PLA)-controlled crossover study investigating the effect of 12-week Colostrum Bovinum (COL) supplementation (25g_COL·day^-1) on aerobic fitness and capacity, time to exhaustion, BM and body composition (BC), and blood lactate concentration
Blinding: Double-blind
Duration: 12-week
Funding: Unclear

Twenty-eight endurance-trained males aged 31.1 ± 10.2 years (body mass [BM] 81.9 ± 9.0 kg) completed this randomized double-blind placebo (PLA)-controlled crossover study investigating the effect of 12-week Colostrum Bovinum (COL) supplementation (25g_COL·day^-1) on aerobic fitness and capacity, time to exhaustion, BM and body composition (BC), and blood lactate concentration. There were four main-before/after supplementation study visits (COL_PRE and COL_POST; PLA_PRE, and PLA_POST). During study visits, BM and BC evaluation, incremental rowing test (IRT) to exhaustion, and evaluation of resting (REST) and post-exercise (POST-IRT) blood lactate concentration were performed. COL, but not PLA supplementation, significantly increased (p < 0.05) time to ventilatory threshold (T_VT). Moreover, the implemented treatments had large (mL·min^-1) and moderate (mL·min^-1·kg^-1) effects on oxygen uptake at VT (VO_2VT), as well as moderate effect on power output at VT (P_VT; W·kg^-1) with the highest values observed at COL_POST visit. Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (T_EXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed. Importantly, there were significantly (p < 0.05) higher increases in VO_2VT (mL·min^-1 and mL·min^-1·kg^-1) after COL compared to PLA supplementation. In summary, COL supplementation resulted in a favorable increase in T_VT, and tended to improve some of the evaluated threshold indicators, namely VO_2VT and P_VT in endurance-trained male athletes during IRT. Therefore, COL supplementation may be considered as a support to improve aerobic fitness and capacity in endurance-trained males; however, supplementation strategy must be personalized and properly incorporated into the individual training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06390670).

Research Insights

Colostrum→Improved Body Composition
Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (T_EXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Increased Oxygen Uptake at Ventilatory Threshold
the implemented treatments had large (mL·min⁻¹) and moderate (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) effects on oxygen uptake at VT (VO₂VT), as well as moderate effect on power output at VT (P_VT; W·kg⁻¹) with the highest values observed at COL_POST visit.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Increased Power Output at Ventilatory Threshold
the implemented treatments had large (mL·min⁻¹) and moderate (mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) effects on oxygen uptake at VT (VO₂VT), as well as moderate effect on power output at VT (P_VT; W·kg⁻¹) with the highest values observed at COL_POST visit.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Increased Time to Exhaustion
Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (T_EXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Increased Time to Ventilatory Threshold
COL, but not PLA supplementation, significantly increased (p < 0.05) time to ventilatory threshold (T_VT).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Reduced Blood Lactate Level
Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (T_EXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
25 g/day
Colostrum→Reduced Body Mass
Neither significant influence of COL supplementation on time to exhaustion (T_EXH) in IRT, BM, and BC on blood lactate was observed.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
25 g/day