15 Best Colostrum Formulas for Babies, Trusted by Many Mothers

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Colostrum is a type of milk that provides many nutrients for infants and young children. Currently, there are a variety of colostrum brands on the market, making it difficult for mothers to choose. Let’s explore with AVAKids the trusted colostrum brands available today to make the best choice!

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is a special type of milk, thick and light yellow or cloudy white in color, produced by the mammary glands of the mother during the late stages of pregnancy and lasting for the first few days after birth (about 72 hours). Colostrum differs from regular breast milk in composition and benefits for newborns.

Colostrum is very good for newborns

Colostrum is very good for newborns

Nutritional composition of colostrum for babies

The best feature of colostrum for newborns is its composition, which includes many valuable nutrients, considered the first natural antibiotic for babies. The composition of colostrum includes:

Antibodies and immune factors:

  • IgA (Immunoglobulin A): The main antibody found in colostrum, protecting babies from respiratory and digestive infections.
  • IgG (Immunoglobulin G): Antibodies passed from mother to child through the placenta, helping to fight bacteria and viruses.
  • IgM (Immunoglobulin M): The first antibody produced during infection, helping to kill bacteria.
  • Lactoferrin: An iron-binding protein that inhibits bacterial growth.
  • Lysozyme: An enzyme that kills bacteria by destroying their cell walls.
  • Leucocytes (White blood cells): Live white blood cells that help fight infection.

Protein: Protein plays a role in providing essential amino acids for the development of muscles, tissues, and organs. Colostrum contains 2-4 times more protein than mature breast milk, especially rich in easily digestible and absorbable whey protein.

Fat: The fat content in colostrum is lower than in mature breast milk but rich in DHA and ARA – essential fatty acids for brain and vision development.

Carbohydrates:

  • Lactose: The low lactose content in colostrum helps improve the baby’s digestive system, making it easier for them to absorb essential nutrients.
  • Oligosaccharides: Prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Vitamins and minerals: Colostrum is rich in vitamins A, E, K, and B vitamins like B12. Besides, colostrum also contains a lot of zinc, iron, and copper – important minerals for overall development.

These nutrients in colostrum help stimulate the production of antibodies against diseases, protect the baby’s brain, and support a healthy digestive system. For newborns, when the immune system is not yet fully developed, colostrum is a “panacea” to protect their health.

Colostrum helps children stay healthy and develop comprehensively

Colostrum helps children stay healthy and develop comprehensively

What are the benefits of colostrum?

Natural vaccine

Colostrum can be likened to a “natural vaccine” that is completely safe for newborns. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is a solid foundation for optimal physical and intellectual development, while minimizing the risk of respiratory diseases, measles, diarrhea, etc.

Enhances the immune system: Colostrum contains a large amount of IgA, IgG, IgM antibodies, along with immune factors such as Lactoferrin, Lysozyme,… helping to protect babies from dangerous infections such as:

  • Respiratory infections: Pneumonia, bronchitis, colds, flu, etc.
  • Gastrointestinal infections: Diarrhea, gastroenteritis, etc.
  • Ear infections: Otitis media

Reduces the risk of allergies: Colostrum helps form a healthy gut microbiome, thereby reducing the risk of food allergies, eczema, and other allergies.

Supports the digestive system

Easy to digest: High Whey protein content, low fat and lactose content make colostrum easier to digest and absorb, reducing the burden on the baby’s immature digestive system.

Promotes meconium passage: Colostrum has a mild laxative effect, helping babies pass meconium easily – the first stool that contains excess bilirubin, thereby preventing jaundice.

Develops the gut microbiome: Prebiotics (oligosaccharides) in colostrum are a food source for beneficial bacteria in the gut, contributing to a healthy digestive system and enhanced immunity.

Supports comprehensive brain development

Ganglioside – an essential fat for brain development – is found in significant amounts in colostrum. Not only does it nourish the brain, but ganglioside also supports the weak digestive system of babies by neutralizing harmful bacteria and effectively preventing intestinal infections. As a result, the baby’s brain is nourished and developed comprehensively right from the first months of life.

Develops brain and vision: DHA and ARA in colostrum are very important for the development of the baby’s brain, vision, and cognitive abilities.

Physical growth and development: Abundant protein, vitamins, and minerals in colostrum provide adequate nutrients for the baby’s physical growth and development.

Other benefits

Reduces the risk of chronic diseases: Some studies have shown that colostrum can help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases later in life, such as obesity, type 1 diabetes, asthma, etc.

Strengthens the mother-child bond: Breastfeeding colostrum immediately after birth helps strengthen the emotional bond between mother and baby.

Note: The effects of colostrum may vary depending on the individual child. While breastfeeding colostrum is essential, consult your doctor for specific advice for your baby’s case.

Who should use colostrum?

Who should use colostrum

Colostrum offers excellent health benefits for many people, not just newborns. Here are the groups of people who should use colostrum:

Infants and young children:

  • Colostrum is the ideal first food for babies, especially premature and low-birth-weight babies, helping to strengthen the immune system, develop the brain, and support the immature digestive system.
  • Supports enhanced resistance, prevents minor illnesses, and helps children develop comprehensively, both physically and intellectually.
  • Improves conditions of picky eating and slow growth, helping children catch up on their growth trajectory.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women:

  • Provides adequate nutrition for both mother and baby, helps the mother have enough milk, and improves the quality of breast milk.
  • Enhances the mother’s resistance, helping her recover quickly after giving birth.

Elderly people:

  • Supports a stronger immune system, reduces the risk of common diseases in the elderly.
  • Improves gut health and enhances nutrient absorption.
  • Supports recovery after surgery or illness.

Athletes and people engaged in heavy labor: Supplements energy, enhances endurance, and helps muscle recovery after exercise.

Who should not drink colostrum?

Although colostrum offers many health benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. Here are some groups who should be cautious and consult with a specialist before using colostrum:

  • People allergic to cow’s milk: Colostrum is mainly extracted from cow’s milk, so people with a history of allergy to cow’s milk or any ingredients in colostrum (lactose, protein…) should avoid using it.
  • People with galactosemia: This is a rare disease that prevents the body from metabolizing galactose, a sugar found in milk. People with this disease should avoid using colostrum and dairy products.
  • People taking medication: Colostrum may interact with certain medications. If you are taking any medication, consult your doctor before using colostrum.
  • People with sensitive constitutions: Some people may experience mild side effects like bloating or diarrhea when using colostrum. It’s best to start with a small dose and gradually increase it to allow the body to adapt.

Criteria for choosing suitable and safe colostrum for newborns

Choose milk according to the baby’s age

Newborns develop every day, so different stages require different types of colostrum. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to the age indicated on the product packaging to choose the best and most suitable colostrum for their child.

Origin of colostrum

There are many colostrum brands on the market produced in different countries, making it difficult for mothers to decide which one to choose for their baby. Typically, colostrum from animal sources is preferred because these products have a nutritional composition closest to breast milk and do not cause irritation or side effects for the baby.

Composition and quality of milk

Parents should prioritize colostrum products supplemented with substances such as colostrum, lysine, probiotics, protein, choline,… In particular, the higher the colostrum content, the purer the colostrum. One note for parents is to choose lactose-free colostrum because if the child cannot tolerate lactose, it can easily cause diarrhea.

To buy quality colostrum products, parents must also choose reputable stores that only sell genuine products with clear origins. Also, don’t forget to check the expiration date before purchasing!

Reputable brand

It is advisable to buy colostrum from reputable brands with extensive experience in the industry, as these products are manufactured with strict production processes, ensuring food safety and hygiene. Besides, choose to buy products at authorized distributors, supermarkets, shopping malls, etc., to avoid buying counterfeit goods.

Price

Depending on their financial situation, parents can choose the most suitable colostrum. The price of colostrum varies widely, from a few hundred thousand to several million VND. Although high-priced products often have the best quality, if parents have a lower budget, they can still choose mid-range products that are sufficient to meet the child’s nutritional needs.

Especially, parents need to be wary of cheap colostrum products with prices significantly different from those at official agents or supermarkets. This is because counterfeit colostrum or low-quality products are widely sold, affecting children’s health.

Top 15 colostrum brands trusted by many mothers

1. Nutifood GrowPLUS+ Colostrum

Nutifood GrowPLUS+ Colostrum is a colostrum product from the Nutifood brand. With a diverse nutritional composition and the exclusive FDI formula, researched by leading European experts at the Nutifood Sweden Nutrition Research Institute, it helps enhance resistance, improve digestion, and optimize children’s development potential.

High levels of DHA, lutein, and iodine help develop the brain and vision, increase memory and learning ability for children, optimizing intelligence. Protein and vitamins such as vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin D3, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus improve taste, develop bones and teeth, promote height growth, and enhance nutrient absorption.

2. Colos Gain Colostrum

The ingredients in the milk include MCT fat and whey protein, helping babies gain weight quickly and absorb nutrients effectively. Zinc and selenium play an important role in strengthening the immune system and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, thereby helping the baby’s digestive system become healthier and preventing digestive diseases.

Vitamin B and lysine help stimulate taste buds, making babies eat with appetite, while soluble fiber FOS plays a role in preventing constipation. The content of DHA, taurine, and choline, which are important nutrients in the development of the baby’s brain and vision. In addition, the milk is supplemented with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 to support the baby’s maximum height growth.

3. Colosbaby Colostrum

Colosbaby colostrum is sourced from grade A dairy farms in the US within 24 hours of the mother cow giving birth. Therefore, the nutrients in the milk are preserved intact, and the IgG antibody content is even 100 times higher, helping to boost the immune system quickly and effectively.

Colosbaby is colostrum for infants and can be used until the child is 3 years old. The colostrum’s composition includes all the essential nutrients for the child’s development, such as protein, IgG, immune factors, minerals, and vitamins. Colosbaby colostrum is a type of milk that promotes brain development and is very good for vision with nutrients such as choline, vitamin A, and taurine.

Colosbaby also has other product lines such as Colosbaby Bio Gold 1+, Colosbaby IQ Gold 1+, Colosbaby IQ Gold 2+,…

4. Mama Colos Multi Colostrum

Mama colostrum contains superior nutritional sources with high levels of carbohydrates, antibodies, lysine, lactoferrin, DHA, prebiotics, and other vitamins and minerals. Mama colostrum is recommended by nutrition experts for children in their early years.

Mama colostrum provides complete nutrition for the child’s overall development and is trusted by many mothers. Mama colostrum helps children eat well, digest well, increase absorption, and stimulate the immune system for a healthier resistance.

Colos Multi Colostrum

Colos Multi Colostrum

5. Ildong Colostrum (Korea)

Ildong colostrum is produced by a leading dairy corporation in Korea and is the best colostrum for infants and children under 9 years old. The ingredients in the colostrum include essential nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, protein, probiotics, antibodies TGF-beta, IGF-1, IgG…

Ildong colostrum (Korea) helps balance the gut microbiome, supplements minerals to support teeth and bone development. Ildong colostrum (Korea) is also excellent for developing the child’s brain and vision.

Ildong Colostrum

Ildong Colostrum

6. Dielac Alpha Gold Colostrum

Dielac Alpha Gold includes nutrients such as vitamins A, C, D, K along with calcium and phosphorus, especially IgG antibodies, along with minerals zinc and selenium, helping to increase resistance, improve height growth, and fight against common infections.

The DHA content is 3 times higher, along with ARA, taurine, and choline to support brain and vision development. In addition, Dielac colostrum for babies also contains 36 nutrients that help children gain healthy weight. Beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, along with soluble fiber inulin and FOS, support better digestive system function and improve nutrient absorption.

7. Natrumax Colostrum

Despite being a foreign brand, Natrumax colostrum manufacturers always seek ingredients suitable for Vietnamese children’s physique. The composition of Natrumax colostrum includes colostrum, various vitamins and minerals, taurine, L-Lysine, choline…

Natrumax colostrum enhances children’s resistance with 100 times more antibodies than regular milk. In particular, Natrumax colostrum also helps repair and regenerate damaged cells, which is very good for children recovering from illness.

Natrumax Colostrum

Natrumax Colostrum

8. Coloscare Colostrum

Among the best colostrum products available today, Coloscare colostrum is very popular with mothers because it comes from the NutriCare brand – a reputable milk brand in Vietnam. The main ingredient of Coloscare colostrum is colostrum, which improves the immune system, enhances the digestive system, and increases resistance for children.

Colos Care Colostrum

Coloscare Colostrum

9. Colomi Colostrum

Colomi colostrum contains high nutritional content with 51% milk powder, antibodies and natural nutrients, lactoferrin bacteria,… meeting the baby’s development needs. In addition, the milk is also supplemented with abundant choline, helping children have a better memory, intelligence, and brighter eyes.

Colomi colostrum contains natural fiber FOS and lysine, supporting good digestion and making babies eat with appetite. In particular, the colostrum contains carnosine, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, and fatty acids for strong bones and better weight gain.

Colomi Colostrum contains many high nutritional ingredients for the baby's comprehensive development

Colomi Colostrum contains many high nutritional ingredients for the baby’s comprehensive development

10. Dielac Grow Plus Colostrum

This is a colostrum product from Vinamilk with essential nutrients for malnourished and stunted children. The colostrum contains colostrum with high antibody content, along with soluble fiber FOS and probiotics to enhance the immune system, balance beneficial bacteria, and improve digestive function.

Besides, the whey protein in the milk helps babies gain healthy weight. Vitamin D along with calcium and 35 types of vitamins and minerals help babies achieve optimal height growth.

11. Colosvita Colostrum

Colosvita colostrum contains many nutrients such as protein, IgG antibodies, fat, carbohydrates,… helping babies have a healthy immune system and providing the most complete nutrients for their development in the early stages of life.

In addition, Colosvita colostrum contains soluble fiber FOS and HMO to enhance nutrient absorption, support good digestion, and effectively reduce constipation in children. Besides, Colosvita colostrum also helps develop good brain function and vision for babies.

Colosvita Colostrum helps develop good brain function and vision for babies

Colosvita Colostrum helps develop good brain function and vision for babies

12. Fenioux Colostrum (France)

Fenioux Colostrum (France) is one of the most popular nutritional products on the market today. This colostrum contains a high level of IgG antibodies, helping infants and young children enhance their immune systems, prevent and fight off diseases, and limit minor illnesses.

In addition, the amount of DHA, vitamin A, and vitamin E in the colostrum helps enhance brain development, thinking ability, and alertness. The milk also contains vitamin D and calcium, facilitating bone tissue development, increasing height, and preventing calcium deficiency in babies.

Fenioux Colostrum provides digestive enzymes lipase and vitamin B1 to improve the digestive system, making babies eat well and gain healthy weight. Besides, minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, etc., in the colostrum will help the metabolic process occur normally.

Fenioux Colostrum (France)

Fenioux Colostrum (France)

13. Synolac Colostrum

Synolac milk is a nutritional supplement with a high nutrient content. Natural antibodies present in the colostrum, such as IgG, IgA, IgF,…, combined with more than 30 types of vitamins and minerals, help create a very solid health foundation during the baby’s early years.

In addition, ingredients like protein, DHA, taurine,… help with brain development, while red algae calcium accelerates calcium absorption into bones, supporting height growth in children. The soluble fiber FOS in the milk, combined with HMO, helps babies strengthen gut bacteria and prevent constipation.

Synolac Colostrum is a nutritional supplement with high nutrient content

Synolac Colostrum is a nutritional supplement with high nutrient content

14. Colos Platinum 1 Colostrum

Colos Platinum 1 colostrum contains 10 times more protein than regular milk powder. In addition, the colostrum is also supplemented with a large amount of natural IgG antibodies to help children enhance their resistance, while providing lysine and taurine to stimulate taste buds and improve appetite.

Besides, Colos Platinum 1 colostrum provides babies with abundant essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, DHA, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12,… helping children develop comprehensively both physically and intellectually during the early stages of life.

Colos Platinum 1 Colostrum contains 10 times more protein than regular milk powder

Colos Platinum 1 Colostrum contains 10 times more protein than regular milk powder

15. Colos Gold Colostrum

Colos Gold colostrum contains IgG antibodies along with probiotics & HMO (2′-FL) to help balance the gut microbiome, combined with 37 types of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to support and strengthen the weak immune system in children. The colostrum is also rich in whey protein, helping children gain healthy weight.

Colos Gold colostrum has 20% more DHA supplemented from algae, supporting brain development for smarter and more alert children. In addition, Vinamilk Colos Gold milk powder for children is also supplemented with a large amount of calcium and vitamin D to help children achieve ideal height growth.

Some notes when giving colostrum to babies

Although colostrum has been researched to provide many nutrients similar to breast milk, it cannot completely replace breast milk, formula milk, or other foods. Therefore, mothers should give it to babies when needed. Mothers can combine colostrum with formula milk, fresh milk, or solid foods. However, it is important to note the recommended amount of colostrum for each use.

Since colostrum is more difficult to dissolve than formula milk, mothers should mix it with water at 40 degrees Celsius and stir well so that the milk does not clump and lose essential nutrients.

Where to buy reputable colostrum for babies

Parents should buy milk for their babies at reputable stores and locations to ensure quality. In addition, baby milk powder products are also being sold at the AVAKids store system nationwide. Parents can buy directly at the store or order online through the website avakids.com.

Frequently asked questions about colostrum

What color is colostrum?

Colostrum can have different colors, usually:

  • Dark yellow or orange: This is the most common color of colostrum, due to its high beta-carotene content. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant, very good for the baby’s immune system.
  • Cloudy white: Cloudy white colostrum usually appears in the days following the secretion of yellow/orange colostrum. This cloudy white color is due to the abundant protein, vitamins, and minerals in the colostrum.
  • Clear or slightly yellow: In some cases, colostrum can be clear or slightly yellow, especially in mothers who give birth prematurely or by cesarean section. However, regardless of its color, colostrum still contains all the necessary nutrients for the baby.

What diseases does colostrum help treat?

Colostrum is not a medicine and does not “treat” diseases. However, colostrum contains many antibodies and nutrients that help prevent some common diseases in newborns, such as:

  • Respiratory diseases: Pneumonia, bronchitis.
  • Infections: Ear infections, urinary tract infections.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Jaundice.
  • Allergies.

How long does it take for colostrum to take effect?

Colostrum is effective from the very first feedings. The antibodies and nutrients in colostrum are quickly absorbed into the baby’s body, helping to strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases. However, the effects of colostrum are not immediate but require time to take effect and provide long-term benefits.