The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in elite field hockey players

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002 Dec;12(4):461-9. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.12.4.461.

Abstract

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effect of 8 weeks of supplementation with bovine colostrum (Intact) on body composition and exercise performance (5 x 10-m sprint, vertical jump, shuttle-run test, and suicide test). Seventeen female and 18 male elite field hockey players, including players from the Dutch national team, received either 60 g of colostrum or whey protein daily. The 5 x 10-m sprint test performance improved significantly (p =.023) more in the colostrum group [0.64 +/- 0.09 s (mean +/- SEM)] compared to the whey group (0.33 +/- 0.09 s). The vertical jump performance improved more in the colostrum group (2.1 +/- 0.73 cm) compared to the whey group (0.32 +/- 0.82 cm). However, this was not statistically significant (p =.119). There were also no significant differences in changes in body composition and endurance tests between the 2 groups. It is concluded that in elite field hockey players, colostrum supplementation improves sprint performance better than whey. However, there were no differences with regard to body composition or endurance performance.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anthropometry
  • Body Composition
  • Cattle
  • Colostrum / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Hockey*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Milk Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Milk Proteins / metabolism
  • Physical Endurance / physiology*
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Whey Proteins

Substances

  • Milk Proteins
  • Whey Proteins