Taking colostrum to consumers

Pedersen Biotech, based in Vejle, Denmark, creates products from colostrum.

The company, in business for more than 35 years, produces cough and cold supplements, sports nutrition, and skincare products from colostrum, which is collected directly from local farmers and then processed to create the variety of products.

Colostrum, which contains high concentrations of antibodies, is the milk produced by mammals in the first 24-36 hours after birth.

The company’s skincare products are marketed under the Sainte Beauté brand, while the cough and cold treatment brand Igazym is a series of lozenges in a variety of flavors including strong (peppermint), fruity (blackcurrant and mint), fresh (lemon), and sweet (licorice and caramel).

However, the Igazym products (under the name Væk I Morgen) have, until now, only been available in Scandinavian pharmacies, supermarkets and convenience stores. The company was at the recent Vitafoods event in Geneva, looking to expand the geographic distribution of the products.

How it works

Antibodies in colostrum are mainly of the type IgG, which is also present in our bloodstream. However, the antibodies in our throat, Pedersen Biotech said, are of the IgA type. IgA is like two IgGs bound together with a protective secretory component, which protects the antibody from being destroyed by enzymes in the oral cavity.

Pedersen Biotech use a patented secretory component to protect the IgG when taken orally, and the company says the IgG, in combination with lysozyme from egg whites, destroys viruses and bacteria that can cause sore throats.