What Is Colostrum? Pros Weigh In on the Supplement Trend Taking Over Social Media

Victoria Moorhouse
·10 min read

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As a new mom who breastfed her baby, I’m very familiar with colostrum. Nicknamed “liquid gold” for its nutrient-dense composition and golden yellow color, it’s the first form of milk that mammals—including humans—produce in late pregnancy and right after birth. What I didn’t realize until recently is that people other than newborns are drinking it—well, cow colostrum, that is.

In particular, Armra Colostrum’s Immune Revival’s Immune Revival is popping up in the water bottles of wellness content creators who are all over TikTok and Instagram. It’s a powdered bovine colostrum supplement derived from grass-fed cows and housed in a jar that screams quiet luxury. Armra Colostrum claims to offer myriad health and wellness benefits like gut-health support, strengthened immunity, hair-growth support, and enhanced skin radiance. Search for Armra on TikTok and you’ll find fans gushing about the improved energy, faster hair growth, decreased bloating, and glowier skin they’ve experienced since adding the supplement to their routine.

Though Armra is arguably the buzziest bovine colostrum supplement on social media, it is not the only option out there. In fact, bovine colostrum, specifically the vanilla-flavored Cowboy Colostrum, was a key ingredient in Sofia Richie Grainge’s Erewhon Market smoothie collaboration that launched in February. The current internet virality of bovine colostrum feels reminiscent of the hype drinkable collagen products initially received a few years back. Right after I started working on this article, two of my favorite wellness influencers posted how they were adding Armra’s colostrum to their daily routine.

So, is bovine colostrum powder really a wellness-routine miracle worker or does it presently lack sound scientific research to back up all the flashy claims? Allure consulted with several experts to find out.

Meet the experts:

  • Lauren Manaker is a registered dietitian based in Charleston, South Carolina.

  • Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

  • Anate Brauer, MD, is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at RMA New York in New York City.

  • Amy Shapiro is a registered dietitian based in New York City.

In this story:

What is colostrum?

As registered dietitian Lauren Manaker explains, colostrum is the first form of milk that’s released by the mammary glands of mammals after the delivery of a newborn. “Rich in antibodies, proteins, and essential nutrients, it plays a crucial role in providing immunity and health benefits to newborns during their first few days of life,” she says. “This nutrient-dense fluid helps to kickstart the immune system and fosters growth in infants.” In humans, colostrum is what the body makes before transitional and then mature breast milk.

Colostrum’s exact composition, as in the concentrations of specific antibodies, growth factors, and proteins, changes based on the species it’s coming from—though Manaker says all colostrum produced by mammals serves the same basic purpose of providing newborns with nutrients and immune protection. “These variations ensure that colostrum is tailored to meet the unique immunological and developmental needs of the offspring,” she says, “depending on the species.”

Colostrum supplements are typically made from bovine colostrum. Says Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, “Products mostly use bovine colostrum due to its availability and rich composition of immune factors and growth factors that are beneficial for both humans and animals.”

Anate Brauer, MD, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at RMA New York in New York City, says that human and bovine colostrum contain antibodies (particularly the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM), proteins (lactoferrin and cytokines), and bioactive molecules, but that bovine colostrum has higher protein levels and more antibodies in general.

Bovine colostrum supplements typically come in capsule form and flavored or unflavored powders that are meant to be mixed with liquids for consumption. Armra’s colostrum powder, for example, comes in two flavors, blood orange and vine watermelon, and an unflavored option, all of which can be added to any cool beverage.

Does taking bovine colostrum powder have health benefits?

It makes sense that a baby calf needs bovine colostrum to thrive, but you may be wondering how the substance benefits an adult human. Turns out, that’s not totally clear just yet. The experts we spoke with say more scientific research is required to confirm that adding bovine colostrum powder to your smoothie is going to transform your wellness routine. “There is some scientific evidence suggesting that bovine colostrum can help with immunity, gut health, and athletic performance due to its high content of antibodies and growth factors,” says Dr. Brauer. “However, more research is needed to conclusively determine its efficacy in these areas.”

What about those claims from enthusiastic TikTokers praising powder bovine colostrum for glowy skin and accelerated hair growth? Says Dr. Murphy-Rose, the powder contains components that may promote hair and skin health (and possibly aid in collagen production) such as growth factors, proteins and amino acids, vitamins A, C, and E, minerals like zinc and magnesium, antioxidants, immunoglobulins, and omega fatty acids. Remember, though, just because a colostrum powder includes these components doesn’t mean the products will definitely provide the noticeable changes you desire. “Increasing the availability of certain essential building blocks in the body can help the body be able to use them when it needs them,” Dr. Murphy-Rose continues. “However, we cannot put nutrients in our body and expect our body to use them in the way we want it to.”

In response to Allure’s request for comment on the need for more scientific studies on the benefits on bovine colostrum, Cowboy Colostrum founders Jessy Shenfeld and Stephanie Stoikos respond via statement: “In short, we agree with the latter, that the benefits of bovine colostrum should continue to be studied. However, the research that is currently available is not only growing every day, but also incredibly compelling for the argument that bovine colostrum can and should be an important cornerstone of an individual’s diet. Whether it be to treat an acute symptom, alleviate chronic issues and discomfort, or just to improve overall health, the research currently accessible has overwhelmingly shown that the use of bovine colostrum can achieve these health goals. The important thing is that studies continue to be published.”

Because Armra appears to be the most popular bovine colostrum powder being touted on social media, it’s also been on the receiving end of skepticism from experts with popular accounts. Some registered dieticians on TikTok have said that the brand’s dosage recommendations aren’t necessarily in line with those found to be potentially effective in studies. Allure has reached out to Armra for comment on this story, but has not heard back as of press time.

Cowboy Colostrum’s standard serving size is 3.4 grams or one scoop. (The brand says you can also take what it calls a “hero’s dose,” which equals 2-3 scoops.) Armra’s Immune Revival says its 1-gram scoop serving can be increased to three scoops for “further benefit.” But both dosages fall short of the amount dieticians on TikTok say has previously shown to be effective. (On its site, Armra claims that the brand’s standard serving size is smaller than other brands because of the potency of its product.)

“While some studies focus on the acute or targeted treatment of a specific symptom over a relatively shorter period of time using bovine colostrum, resulting in a higher dose, our product is for long-term daily use,” Cowboy Colostrum’s Shenfeld and Stoikos tell Allure in their joint statement.

According to Manaker, theoretically effective/beneficial dosage may range from 20-60 grams per day, divided between two and three doses, and that pairing bovine colostrum with a balanced diet and maintaining proper hydration can support its effects. “Again, we need more high-quality data to confirm the exact dosage and methods that people should be sticking to before we make any definitive recommendations,” she says.

It’s important to talk to your doctor before incorporating any new supplement into your routine. Manufacturer recommendations on intake may also differ depending on the colostrum supplement formula.

What are the ethical questions surrounding bovine colostrum powder?

Many of the popular bovine colostrum powder brands on the market claim to follow a "calf-first” sourcing model, in which the brand only collects and uses overflow colostrum after calves have received the nutrients they need; but some have raised questions surrounding the ethics of using the supplement. Sentient, a nonprofit news organization “that publishes stories and solutions to explain factory farms and their effect on climate, animals, public health, politics,” reported that while supplement makers state that they have animal welfare in mind, calves and their mothers may suffer if the supplements continue to grow in popularity, adding that “bovine colostrum is inseparable from the modern dairy industry, which is far from kind to cows or to the environment.”

Is taking bovine colostrum powder safe?

According to experts, colostrum supplements are generally considered safe for most people when taken as recommended, but colostrum is considered a dairy product, so those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance should avoid them, as should those with certain hormone-sensitive cancers because the supplement contains trace amounts of estrogen.

To help ensure quality and safety, Armra and Cowboy Colostrum say their products are tested for contaminants by ISO-certified third-party labs before they go to retail. Third-party testing is commonly performed by many brands that produce supplements, says Manaker, but using ISO-certified labs is a notable quality. “Specifically, ISO-certified labs are required to adhere to stringent protocols and maintain a high level of reliability in their testing methods,” she explains. “This not only provides assurance that the colostrum is free from contaminants but also reinforces consumer confidence in the product's integrity.”

As with any supplement, our experts recommend reaching out to your health care provider for input before use. Amy Shapiro, a registered dietitian based in New York City, mentions that colostrum supplements may interact with certain medications, so it’s crucial to first reach out to your doctor if you’re taking any medications or have underlying health conditions. Dietary supplements, including colostrum products, are not approved for safety and effectiveness by the FDA before they hit the market, which can open the door for potential safety concerns. So, in addition to checking with your doctor, do your due diligence by researching the brand you plan to purchase from and click buy from reputable suppliers only.

“It’s important to note that many products on the market may not be third-party tested for quality and purity,” says Manaker. “This lack of testing can raise concerns about the authenticity and effectiveness of the supplements.”

Trendy colostrum supplements can also be pricey: Cowboy Colostrum’s Nature’s Gold Vanilla formula is $68 for 40 scoops. You can get a little over a month’s worth of use—as long as you’re not taking a “hero’s dose.” (If you were to take a three-serving-a-day dose every day, you would get approximately 13 days of usage.)

One jar of Armra Colostrum's Immune Revival powder in the unflavored option is $110 for 120 servings (flavored options cost more), which equates to about 40 (if you took three scoops per day) to 120 days of usage. “This expense should prompt consumers to do thorough research and consider their options carefully before making a purchase,” Manaker says.

You also don’t need bovine colostrum in your diet to help support your immune system, gut health, or your hair and skin health. Your best bet is to reach out to your health care provider for a personalized plan.

Read more about the latest wellness trends:

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Originally Appeared on Allure

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