Today, we are excited to progress our coverage of the proven, health-boosting peptides within colostrum. We’ve recently addressed Bio-Active Peptides, and took a closer look at Proline-rich Polypeptides (PRP’s), and Lactoferrin, which you can learn more about by following the links. 

This week’s article focuses on the peptides classified as Growth Factors. Colostrum’s Growth Factors have the ability to heal, repair, and regenerate body tissues, such as skin, organs, muscle, and other connective tissue. In addition to anti-aging and sport nutrition benefits, it’s worth exploring the regenerative perks of these peptides in regard to the deleterious effects of COVID-19 on the body’s organs. Here’s a quick synopsis: 

Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF-I and IGF-II)

• The most abundant growth factors in colostrum
• Primary structures are highly conserved across species and have identical sequences in humans
• Heat and acid stable and widely distributed mediators of cell growth, development, and differentiation
• Amino acid sequence of purified bovine IGF-I is identical to that of human IGF-I
• Dietary IGF-I can stimulate cell proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract
• Dietary IGFs may have a direct effect on the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and can be absorbed into circulation

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)

• Plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation and differentiation
• Stimulates the repair process at the site of inflammation
• Plays an important role in preventing bacterial translocation and stimulating gut immunity
• Anabolic growth factor with possible differentiation-inducing factors for intestinal epithelium of newborns, suggesting possible applications of recombinant IGF and IGF analogs for repair of damaged gastrointestinal tissues
• Supplementation with EGF may aid in the recovery of traumatized gastric and intestinal tissues

Transforming Growth Factor Alpha (TGF-α)

• Plays a complementary role with TGF-β in controlling the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation in the intestinal epithelium
• Systematic administration of TGF-α stimulates gastrointestinal growth and repair, inhibits acid secretion, stimulates mucosal restitution after injury and increases gastric mucin concentrations
• Upregulation of TGF-α expression has been shown to occur in the gastrointestinal mucosa at sites of injury, supporting a role of TGF-α in mucosal growth and repair
• Major physiological role of TGF-α is to act as a mucosal-integrity peptide, maintaining normal epithelia function in the non-damaged mucosa

Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β)

• Plays an important role on the regulation of the immune system
• Stimulates proliferation of some cells, especially in connective tissue, whereas it acts as a growth inhibitor for other cells
• During injury or disease, it acts in concert with EGF to stimulate cell proliferation
• Key player in stimulating restitution, the early phase of the repair process during which surviving cells from the edge of a wound migrate over the denuded area to reestablish epithelial continuity
• TGF-β blocks the destruction of newly synthesized cells by regulating the synthesis of proteases
• Both TGF-α and TGF-β are helpful in the repair and integrity of epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract

Fibroblast Growth factor (FGF) 

• A naturally occurring substance capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation and cellular differentiation
• Involved in angiogenesis, wound healing, and embryonic development
• Key player in the processes of proliferation and differentiation of a wide variety of cells and tissues
• Acts as signaling molecules between cells

As we experience some of the more destructive parts of life on earth (aging, viruses, nutritional deficiencies, environmental factors, etc), the numerous benefits to human health found in TBR Labs’ Colostrum are worth looking into. We encourage you to learn more or reach out to us today, so you can begin living and feeling (quantity AND quality) healthier with colostrum.