1. Introduction
URTIs, infections, upper respiratory tract infections
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS, INFECTIONS
Bovine colostrum is considered to provide anti-infective protection. Here, we present the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed at assessing the preventive use of colostrum against upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in healthy pre-school children. We analyzed 57 children—35 in the colostrum (COL—dried bovine colostrum) and 22 in the placebo (PBO—dried whey) group, who received these substances as follows: first 15 days 2 × 500 mg and then 30 days 1 × 500 mg. The reporting on the children’s health status, specifically on the frequency and gravity of URTI symptoms and abdominal side effects, was performed via an online survey. The influence of colostrum on the frequency of days with URTI symptoms remained significant until the 20th week of observation and reached 31% of median reduction. The median reduction reached 37% when the gravity of symptoms was analyzed. When we grouped symptomatic days into episodes of second gravity level, the reduction in their frequency was even larger (50%) and lasted until the end of the trial (21 weeks). No significant side effects, especially abdominal, were reported during the trial. Colostrum supplementation in pre-school children is well tolerated, safe and provides protection from frequency of URTIs and their gravity.Of all childhood health issues, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) seem to be the most common problems, according to various authors, as they typically occur 3–8 times a year [Limiting the number and gravity of URTIs with the use of various approaches has been a goal of medicine throughout its entire history, usually with a limited degree of success. Traditionally, the preventive attempts included the use of several natural products derived from plants or animals, including probiotic supplementation [Bovine colostrum has long been claimed to have the potential to modulate and boost human immunity to infections. However, valid clinical tests have only proven this for selected groups of subjects, such as those represented by either extreme physically active or heavily stressed out and overworked adult individuals [Considering the above and recognizing the great importance of conclusively establishing whether the bovine colostrum is capable of preventing URTIs in healthy children, we decided to perform a triple-blind placebo-controlled trial in an attempt to resolve this issue. The trial was performed concomitantly with a group of pre-school children attending one of the only two kindergarten facilities participating in the study. This was aimed to reduce the bias resulting from participants being exposed to unpredictable pathogens’ variety related to seasonal shift and to various environmental factors. Our team recently conducted a survey-based study on the effectiveness of colostrum in prevention of URTIs among medical university students [