Beauty News, Bonusan

Why lactoferrin and which one do you choose?

11
Jul

Lactoferrin plays vital roles in your body. As a newborn, you receive a lot of this miraculous substance through breast milk. At that point, you are extremely vulnerable, which demonstrates just how remarkable lactoferrin is. In your later life, your body also produces lactoferrin. However, various factors can negatively affect the supply. For instance, a lack of physical activity or stress. In such cases, a suitable supplement can replenish your supply. In this article, we’ll discuss what lactoferrin is, what it does, and provide advice on which supplements to choose.

What is lactoferrin?

Lactoferrin is a protein that naturally occurs in your body. The name lactoferrin stems from the fact that it was first discovered in cow’s milk (lacto) and because it can bind iron ions (ferrin). We’ll explain this in more detail later on.

Summary: Lactoferrin is a protein that naturally occurs in your body.

The production of lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is produced in various tissues in your body, including the:

  • Tear glands
  • Breast glands
  • Mucous membranes
  • Salivary glands
  • Intestines
  • Airways

It can also be isolated from milk and colostrum. Colostrum is the first breast milk produced up to 2 or 3 days after birth. Summary: Lactoferrin is produced in various tissues in the body and can also be isolated from milk and colostrum.

The production of lactoferrin in your body is influenced by various factors, such as exercise and your hormones.

For instance, during and after pregnancy, the production of lactoferrin is promoted by hormones. Also, exercising on an empty stomach can stimulate the production, preferably weight training with the arms.

What does lactoferrin do?

Lactoferrin has various roles in your body. Below are the most crucial ones. It can bind free iron ions. Lactoferrin can bind free iron ions and transport them to other parts of your body. There, the iron can be used. It’s beneficial that lactoferrin does this. Iron is a crucial element for many biological processes in your body. However, iron can also lead to tissue damage if it remains unbound. When lactoferrin binds to iron ions, it prevents these iron ions from causing damage.

There’s another advantage. Binding and holding onto free iron prevents bacteria, fungi, and viruses from using it as a food source. These organisms need iron ions. Lactoferrin is even better at binding iron than other proteins like transferrin. That’s because lactoferrin can also retain iron in areas with higher acidity.

It promotes iron absorption in the intestines

Simply put, this is because the lactoferrin molecule can penetrate the intestinal cell. There, it releases the iron, and then another substance brings it to your bloodstream.


It can block cell receptors for viruses

Lactoferrin binds to specific receptors on cells, which blocks access for a virus to the cell. This way, viruses can’t enter your cells.

Summary: Lactoferrin binds and transports iron, regulates iron absorption in the intestine, and can bind to cell receptors, preventing viruses from entering your cells.

When is additional lactoferrin needed, and is it safe?

As we mentioned earlier, your body is capable of producing lactoferrin itself. However, under certain circumstances, additional lactoferrin may be beneficial, such as when you often:

– experience stress

– eat processed foods

or if you don’t get enough exercise. Taking 300 mg of lactoferrin per day is safe, even as an addition to baby formula. If you use lactoferrin in consultation with a health professional, you usually do this for at least 10 or 14 days, and the duration can be extended to 21 days if desired. Also, the amount of lactoferrin can then be much more than 300 mg.

Please note: People with an allergy to cow’s milk proteins, unfortunately, cannot use this supplement.

Summary: Additional lactoferrin can be beneficial in case of stress, if you eat a lot of processed foods, and lack exercise. It is safe to take up to 300 mg of lactoferrin daily, and it is safe to take more on the advice of a health professional.

How to choose the best lactoferrin?

When opting for a supplement, quality is of course crucial. Lower quality products carry a higher risk of unwanted side effects. Below, you’ll find what to look out for.
Opt for the correct source

A good lactoferrin supplement is made from cow’s milk. This lactoferrin is nearly identical to that of breast milk.

The origin of the lactoferrin is important. Cows that are raised naturally provide purer milk from which lactoferrin can be extracted. By natural, we mean that they grow up in a pasture with an ecological diet, without genetically modified food.

Lactoferrin is a natural product and can therefore vary in color. The diet of the cow affects the color of the milk and the lactoferrin. Fortunately, this doesn’t affect the quality.

Opt for the highest possible purity

The purer the raw material, the better. The purest raw material currently available on the Dutch market is as much as 97% pure lactoferrin.

Choose a supplement free of LPS

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a type of molecule that can trigger inflammation in your body. In the manufacturing process of lactoferrin supplements, the milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria. However, the cell wall of these bacteria can remain, and this contains LPS. It’s essential to choose a supplement that guarantees low LPS levels.

Choose a supplement free of allergens

As we mentioned earlier, people who are allergic to cow’s milk proteins cannot take lactoferrin supplements. Therefore, you should choose a supplement that is free from allergens and contains only pure lactoferrin.

Summary: It’s essential to choose a supplement with the highest possible purity, low LPS levels, and free from allergens.

A brief summary of this article

Lactoferrin is a protein that occurs naturally in your body. It’s crucial for several reasons. It binds and transports iron ions, and by doing so, it prevents these ions from causing damage. It also prevents harmful organisms from using these ions as a food source. Additionally, lactoferrin promotes the absorption of iron in your intestines and can block cell receptors, which prevents viruses from entering your cells.

The production of lactoferrin can be influenced by various factors, such as your hormone levels or exercise. However, if you’re often stressed, if you don’t get enough exercise, or if you eat a lot of processed food, you might need to consider a supplement. This supplement is safe to use and can be beneficial. However, people who are allergic to cow’s milk proteins cannot use this supplement.

When choosing a lactoferrin supplement, there are several factors to consider. The best supplements are derived from cow’s milk, which should come from naturally raised cows. The purity of the supplement is also important, as is the presence of LPS, which can trigger inflammation in your body. Lastly, you should choose a supplement that is free from allergens.

To wrap it up, lactoferrin is an important protein for your health. You might need to supplement it in certain situations. In such cases, be sure to choose a high-quality supplement that meets the criteria mentioned in this article.

 

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