Lactoferrin
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LACTOFERRIN
Over the last few weeks and months there has been a lot of talk about lactoferrin, particularly because of its alleged ability to prevent and treat the early symptoms of infection with SARS-CoV-2, better known as Coronavirus or Covid-19.
Before going deeper into this very topical subject, let us define what lactoferrin is.
It is a glycoprotein found in large quantities in mammalian milk: buffalo, goat and cow's milk, or the breast milk that babies drink.
It is a molecule with a protective function, thanks to its dense natural barrier that stops pathogens from passing through the respiratory and intestinal mucosa, which gives it long-known anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It also plays a key role in binding iron and transporting it at cellular level.
Why is everyone talking about lactoferrin supplements right now? And why is it so hard to find in the shops?
Its great success comes from a number of studies carried out in recent months on the possible positive effects of lactoferrin, including in fighting Covid-19.
LACTOFERRIN AND CORONAVIRUS
In particular, significant results emerged from research carried out in parallel at the Universities of Tor Vergata and La Sapienza. The researcher Elena Campione noticed that during the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, children either did not fall ill or fell ill without serious symptoms. This was due to their natural non-antibody immunity, which derives in particular from the protein lactoferrin. On this basis, in April the Tor Vergata research group, which includes Luca Bianchi and Massimo Andreoni, decided to give lactoferrin both to a group of Coronavirus patients showing the first symptoms and to asymptomatic patients, and observed that ten days after the start of treatment the symptoms disappeared and the patients subsequently tested negative.
In addition, during the same period, laboratory studies began at La Sapienza University with the microbiology professor Piera Valenti, showing that lactoferrin blocks infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 in their early phase. A further confirmation of the study carried out at Tor Vergata.
This Italian study is not the only one on lactoferrin and Coronavirus.
The University of Padua has launched studies in collaboration with Coldiretti to assess the variability of lactoferrin in farms in the Veneto region and to study its properties. The idea came precisely from the studies carried out in Rome and from the publication in the scientific journal Journal of Molecular Science of a review entitled “ Lactoferrin as protective natural barrier of respiratory and intestinal mucosa against coronavirus infection and inflammation”.
The article “Lactoferrin as potential preventative and adjunct treatment for COVID-19”, published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, highlights how “the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory roles of lactoferrin (Lf) have gained increasing scientific interest, as it seems to be able to moderate the host response to infections and has the dual ability to stimulate the immune system to counter pathogen invasion while at the same time preventing host immunity from inflammatory responses”. Which is exactly what is happening in the current pandemic.
OTHER STUDIES ON LACTOFERRIN
Over the years, the scientific literature has often come across this protein.
Several in vitro (= laboratory) studies have shown its powerful antiviral effects against the replication of both human HIV and cytomegalovirus.
In the past, Chinese researchers also demonstrated the protective function of lactoferrin against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (a cousin of Covid-19), while other studies have shown that it inhibits Herpes type 1 and 2 infection.
Another review published on PubMed in 2003, entitled “The therapeutic potential of lactoferrin”, states that “a major function of Lf is precisely to scavenge non-protein-bound iron in body fluids and inflamed areas, so as to suppress free radical-mediated damage and reduce the availability of the metal to invading bacterial, fungal and neoplastic cells”.
A study entitled “Lactoferrin from Milk: Nutraceutical and Pharmacological Properties”, published in 2016, states that “Lf has been shown to be involved in several physiological and protective functions, including the regulation of iron absorption in the intestine; antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, which are the most studied functions to date”.
Also on PubMed, a 2016 review entitled “Overview of lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator” states that “lactoferrin is the most polyvalent protein involved in host defence against tissue injury and infection in vertebrates”. In addition, “lactoferrin not only has antimicrobial properties, but also modulates innate and adaptive immune responses. Lactoferrin can effectively increase and decrease the activation, migration and growth of immune cells”.
Have any contraindications to the use of lactoferrin been reported? The answer is no, as no adverse effects have been found.
In short, Lf may not be a cure-all, but there are a great many publications on its various beneficial properties, coming from all over the world, not to mention the most recent ones on Covid-19.
It may still be too early for certainties, and it will take time to understand how effective Lf really is against Coronavirus, but there is no doubt that for many years lactoferrin has been considered a powerful protein for the immune system in general.
LACTOFERRIN SUPPLEMENTS
From the above, it is clear why demand for lactoferrin supplements has increased, thanks to its alleged preventive antiviral abilities. Everyone is now looking for the best lactoferrin supplements, whether sublingual lactoferrin in tablets or capsules, or liquid lactoferrin in drops.
There is no recognised brand name for lactoferrin, as there are still few products available on the market.
The important thing to stress is that the maximum daily dose currently permitted for a lactoferrin supplement is 200 mg per tablet.
Over the last few weeks and months there has been a lot of talk about lactoferrin, particularly because of its alleged ability to prevent and treat the early symptoms of infection with SARS-CoV-2, better known as Coronavirus or Covid-19.
Before going deeper into this very topical subject, let us define what lactoferrin is.
It is a glycoprotein found in large quantities in mammalian milk: buffalo, goat and cow's milk, or the breast milk that babies drink.
It is a molecule with a protective function, thanks to its dense natural barrier that stops pathogens from passing through the respiratory and intestinal mucosa, which gives it long-known anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It also plays a key role in binding iron and transporting it at cellular level.
Why is everyone talking about lactoferrin supplements right now? And why is it so hard to find in the shops?
Its great success comes from a number of studies carried out in recent months on the possible positive effects of lactoferrin, including in fighting Covid-19.
LACTOFERRIN AND CORONAVIRUS
In particular, significant results emerged from research carried out in parallel at the Universities of Tor Vergata and La Sapienza. The researcher Elena Campione noticed that during the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, children either did not fall ill or fell ill without serious symptoms. This was due to their natural non-antibody immunity, which derives in particular from the protein lactoferrin. On this basis, in April the Tor Vergata research group, which includes Luca Bianchi and Massimo Andreoni, decided to give lactoferrin both to a group of Coronavirus patients showing the first symptoms and to asymptomatic patients, and observed that ten days after the start of treatment the symptoms disappeared and the patients subsequently tested negative.
In addition, during the same period, laboratory studies began at La Sapienza University with the microbiology professor Piera Valenti, showing that lactoferrin blocks infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 in their early phase. A further confirmation of the study carried out at Tor Vergata.
This Italian study is not the only one on lactoferrin and Coronavirus.
The University of Padua has launched studies in collaboration with Coldiretti to assess the variability of lactoferrin in farms in the Veneto region and to study its properties. The idea came precisely from the studies carried out in Rome and from the publication in the scientific journal Journal of Molecular Science of a review entitled “ Lactoferrin as protective natural barrier of respiratory and intestinal mucosa against coronavirus infection and inflammation”.
The article “Lactoferrin as potential preventative and adjunct treatment for COVID-19”, published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, highlights how “the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory roles of lactoferrin (Lf) have gained increasing scientific interest, as it seems to be able to moderate the host response to infections and has the dual ability to stimulate the immune system to counter pathogen invasion while at the same time preventing host immunity from inflammatory responses”. Which is exactly what is happening in the current pandemic.
OTHER STUDIES ON LACTOFERRIN
Over the years, the scientific literature has often come across this protein.
Several in vitro (= laboratory) studies have shown its powerful antiviral effects against the replication of both human HIV and cytomegalovirus.
In the past, Chinese researchers also demonstrated the protective function of lactoferrin against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (a cousin of Covid-19), while other studies have shown that it inhibits Herpes type 1 and 2 infection.
Another review published on PubMed in 2003, entitled “The therapeutic potential of lactoferrin”, states that “a major function of Lf is precisely to scavenge non-protein-bound iron in body fluids and inflamed areas, so as to suppress free radical-mediated damage and reduce the availability of the metal to invading bacterial, fungal and neoplastic cells”.
A study entitled “Lactoferrin from Milk: Nutraceutical and Pharmacological Properties”, published in 2016, states that “Lf has been shown to be involved in several physiological and protective functions, including the regulation of iron absorption in the intestine; antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, which are the most studied functions to date”.
Also on PubMed, a 2016 review entitled “Overview of lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator” states that “lactoferrin is the most polyvalent protein involved in host defence against tissue injury and infection in vertebrates”. In addition, “lactoferrin not only has antimicrobial properties, but also modulates innate and adaptive immune responses. Lactoferrin can effectively increase and decrease the activation, migration and growth of immune cells”.
Have any contraindications to the use of lactoferrin been reported? The answer is no, as no adverse effects have been found.
In short, Lf may not be a cure-all, but there are a great many publications on its various beneficial properties, coming from all over the world, not to mention the most recent ones on Covid-19.
It may still be too early for certainties, and it will take time to understand how effective Lf really is against Coronavirus, but there is no doubt that for many years lactoferrin has been considered a powerful protein for the immune system in general.
LACTOFERRIN SUPPLEMENTS
From the above, it is clear why demand for lactoferrin supplements has increased, thanks to its alleged preventive antiviral abilities. Everyone is now looking for the best lactoferrin supplements, whether sublingual lactoferrin in tablets or capsules, or liquid lactoferrin in drops.
There is no recognised brand name for lactoferrin, as there are still few products available on the market.
The important thing to stress is that the maximum daily dose currently permitted for a lactoferrin supplement is 200 mg per tablet.
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