Using healthy human volunteers, studies have found the ingestion of lactoferrin derived from cows milk had positive immunoregulatory effects that were specific to the individual. That is, depending on the initial profile of the immune system of each person, lactoferrin ingestion augmented the immune response, leading the researchers to conclude “. . .the data suggests that bovine (cows) lactoferrin may be applied in the clinic to improve the immune status of the patients.A similar human study using human test patients who ingested lactoferrin concluded “these results suggest that lactoferrin administration may influence the primary activation of the host defense system.” (see Yamauchi below)

RESEARCH SNAPSHOTS

“The role of lactoferrin includes regulation of iron homeostatis, host defense against a broad range of microbial infections, anti-inflammatory activity, regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and protection against cancer development and metastasis. While iron binding is likely central to some of the biological roles of lactoferrin, other activities…also contribuate to the functional nature of this protein. In this article, recent advances in the understanding of these functions at the cellular and molecular level are discussed.”
Ward, PP et al. Multifunctional roles of lactoferrin: a critical overview. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005 Nov 2. [Epub ahead of print]

“These results suggest that the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells among the lymphocytes might have increased in these subjects [administered bovine lactoferrin]. It was demonstrated that the phagocytic activity or superoxide production activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes or the proportions of CD1 1b+, CD16+, and CD56+ in lumphocytes was influenced by lactoferrin administration in 7 of the 10 volunteers…These results suggest that lactoferrin administration may influence primary activation of the host defense system.”
Yamauchi K, et al. Effects of orally administered bovine lactoferrin on the immune system of healthy volunteers. Adv Exp Med Biol 1998;443:261-5.

“We conclude that lactoferrin may have a physiological role in bone growth and healing and a potential therapeutic roleas an anabolic factor in osteoporosis.”
Naot D. Lactoferrin – a novel bone growth factor. Clin Med Res. 2005 May;3(2):93-101.
“…lactoferrin…has been reported to exhibit antiviral activities as well as immuno-modulatory effects…These results suggest the potential of oral administration of lactoferrin or lactoperoxidase to attenuate pneumonia in influenza-virus-infected mice through the suppression of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung.”
Shin K, et al. Effects of orally administered bovine lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on influenza virus infection in mice. J Med Microbiol 2005 Aug;54(Pt 8):717-23.

“Lactoferrin is another milk bioactive compound with nutritional and health promoting properties: it modulates the microbial intestinal environment, displays anti-microbial activity against various pathogens and stmulates the establishment of beneficial microflora.”
Baldi A, et al. Biological effects of milk proteins and their peptides with emphasis on those related to the gastrointestinal ecosystem. J Dairy Res. 2005;72 Spec No:66-72.

“Naturally occurring antimicrobial proteins and peptides have also been shown to possess antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus. Both lactoferrin and lactoferricin have geen sh own to effectively block entry of herpes simples virus into the host cell.”
Jenssen, H. Anti herpes simplex virus activity of lactoferrin/lactoferricin – an example of antiviral activity of antimicrobial protein/peptide. Cell Mol Life Sci 2005 Nov 2 [Epub ahead of print].