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Microlactin

Microlactin (Hyperimmune milk) is a form of milk that is acquired by giving lactating cows immunostimulants, which produces a larger amount of antibodies in their secreted milk. It appears to be effective in reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis and may support the immune system.

Our evidence-based analysis on microlactin features 13 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by Kamal Patel.
All content reviewed by the Examine.com Team. Published: Jul 12, 2013
Last Updated:

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Things To Know & Note

Other Functions:

Primary Function:

Also Known As

Hyperimmune Milk

Caution Notice

Examine.com Medical Disclaimer

How to Take Microlactin

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

Microlactin has shown benefit following oral ingestion of both 2,000mg and 9,000mg when taken daily over the course of a few weeks. The optimal dose is currently not known.

Human Effect Matrix

The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (it excludes animal and in vitro studies) to tell you what effects microlactin has on your body, and how strong these effects are.
Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-c
Blood Pressure
Minor - See study
Has been noted to reduce blood pressure in persons with hyperlipidemia
grade-c
LDL-C
Minor - See study
A reduction in LDL-C is seen in hyperlipidemics associated with hyperimmune milk consumption
grade-c
Pain
Minor Very High See 2 studies
Possible pain reduction associated with reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis, with one study suggesting comparable efficacy to glucosamine sulfate
grade-c
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Minor Very High See 2 studies
Appears to reduce pain symptoms and improve functionality associated with osteoarthritis, with one study suggesting comparable efficacy to glucosamine sulfate
grade-c
Total Cholesterol
Minor Very High See 2 studies
May be able to reduce total cholesterol by a moderate to low degree (8-10%), but requires more robust evidence
grade-c
HDL-C
- - See study
Despite reductions in LDL and total cholesterol, there do not appear to be significant influences on HDL-C levels
grade-c
Triglycerides
- - See study
No significant influence on fasting triglycerides noted

Scientific Research on Microlactin

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1Sources and Summary

The term Microlactin appears to refer to an extract derived from Milk protein from hyperimmunized cows, particularly the bioactive peptides.[1][2][3] Microlactin is also sometimes referred to as Hyperimmune milk, and appears to be obtained via delivering an immune stimulant (Polyvalent immunization of bacteria derived from the human gut) to pregant cows 4 weeks before parturition and continuing every 2 weeks through lactation,[4] and was discovered in 1955 when application of a human pathogenic bacteria produced a high degree of antigen-specific antibodies milk secretions.[5]

Microlactin (Hyperimmune milk) is milk derived from cows that, prior to lactation, are delivered an immunostimulant and subsequently produce more bioactive peptides in the milk they produce

Microlactin contains both high weight and low weight bioactive peptides, with the high weight peptides being antigen-specific peptides while the lower weight peptides confer general anti-inflammatory properties. For the high weight bioactive peptides, the immunoglobulin IgG appears to be predominant in most milk whereas the IgG type I antibody appears to be 20-40% higher in Hyperimmune milk relative to normal skim milk[6] although another study quantified the dose at 5.45mg/g (5.11-5.79mg/g) in Hyperimmune milk while failing to detect any in control (skim) milk (did not disclose limit of quantification).[7]

It should be noted that the high molecular weight antibodies are detectable in normal cow milk as well as hyperimmune milk, although at lower quantities (with this study noting that the greatest difference was in the antibody for Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Hyperimmune having 282% more antibody activity in vitro).[6]

Microlactin appears to be standard milk protein concentration but with a higher concentrations of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) relative to standard milk protein concentrates; for all intents and purposes, bioactivity that differs between Microlactin and regular milk is probably due to the IgG content

2Pharmacology

2.1Digestion

When looking at the IgG bioactive peptide, it has been noted to resist acid hydrolysis in the stomach during digestion in infants[8] and in human adults following oral administration when paired with antacids (sometimes called buffered immunoglobulins).[9]

3Cardiovascular Health

3.1Cholesterol

In persons with high cholesterol (n=11 and no placebo group), Hyperimmune milk at 45g (Skim milk, rather than isolated protein) has been noted to reduce circulating cholesterol. This trial used a crossover design using either 8 weeks of Hyperimmune milk followed by regular skim milk or vice versa, and in both conditions serum cholesterol was reduced during the Hyperimmune period but not skim milk period; cessation of milk products saw normalization of serum cholesterol.[6] A later study doubling the dose quantified the reduction of LDL-C (5.2%) and Total cholesterol (7.4%) in a similar cohort of hypercholesterolemic persons against a placebo of regular skim milk; this study failed to find an influence on triglycerides or HDL-C, and noted that both systolic (2.3%) and diastolic (3.9%) blood pressure were reduced relative to placebo.[7]

A cholesterol reducing effect has been noted with milk protein per se,[10] and it is thought that it is mediated by the IgG component and thus enhanced with Microlactin.[7]

4Inflammation and Immunology

4.1Interventions

One intervention[11] has been conducted (independently) in persons with minor pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee given a test beverage containing 9g of Microlactin (with some sugar and compared to a sugar placebo) and assessed by the Western Ontario MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)[12] derived from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)[13] noted that weeks 3-6 of supplementation were associated with an improvement in the WOMAC osteoarthritic index relative to baseline while placebo was not.[11]

Another study using reconstituted hyperimmune milk protein at 2000mg twice daily (4000mg daily) in persons with knee osteoarthritis with Glucosamine sulfate at 1,500mg as active control noted that over 6 weeks usage of Microlactin improved symptoms scores as assessed by WOMAC (on all measured subsets of pain, stiffness, activity, and total) while Glucosamine outperformed placebo on stiffness and total.[4] Microlactin slightly outperformed Glucosamine on all parameters but none appeared to be statistically significant.[4]

5Safety and Toxicology

5.1General

Human interventions using Microlactin do not report a higher rate of side-effects when compared with placebo.[4][11]

References

  1. ^ Ormrod DJ, Miller TE. Milk from hyperimmunized dairy cows as a source of a novel biological response modifier. Agents Actions. (1993)
  2. ^ Ormrod DJ, Miller TE. The anti-inflammatory activity of a low molecular weight component derived from the milk of hyperimmunized cows. Agents Actions. (1991)
  3. ^ A low molecular weight component derived from the milk of hyperimmunised cows suppresses inflammation by inhibiting neutrophil emigration.
  4. ^ a b c d The effects of milk protein concentrate on the symptoms of osteoarthritis in adults: an exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  5. ^ PETERSEN WE, CAMPBELL B. Use of protective principles in milk and colostrum in prevention of disease in man and animals. J Lancet. (1955)
  6. ^ a b c Golay A, et al. Cholesterol-lowering effect of skim milk from immunized cows in hypercholesterolemic patients. Am J Clin Nutr. (1990)
  7. ^ a b c Sharpe SJ, Gamble GD, Sharpe DN. Cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure effects of immune milk. Am J Clin Nutr. (1994)
  8. ^ de Rham O, Isliker H. Proteolysis of bovine immunoglobulins. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. (1977)
  9. ^ Tacket CO, et al. Protection by milk immunoglobulin concentrate against oral challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. N Engl J Med. (1988)
  10. ^ The hypocholesteremic effect of milk a review.
  11. ^ a b c Colker CM, et al. Effects of a milk-based bioactive micronutrient beverage on pain symptoms and activity of adults with osteoarthritis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical evaluation. Nutrition. (2002)
  12. ^ Bellamy N, et al. Validation study of WOMAC: a health status instrument for measuring clinically important patient relevant outcomes to antirheumatic drug therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. J Rheumatol. (1988)
  13. ^ Roos EM, et al. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)--development of a self-administered outcome measure. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. (1998)

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 13 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of references for this page.

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