Colostrum, the nutrient-rich form of milk produced immediately after birth, is often referred to as ‘liquid gold’ for its ability to protect infants against infections and promote gut health. Australian research has now shown a link between adequate colostrum intake in an infant’s first days and protection against development of peanut and multiple food allergies.
Data were extracted from hospital records for 666 mother-infant pairs in the Australian ORIGINS cohort. Infants were categorised as exclusively colostrum fed or partially colostrum fed in their first days after birth. Food allergy diagnosis at one year was based on a positive skin prick test and maternal reports of immediate reactions.
Findings reveal that 46 per cent of infants were partially colostrum fed and had higher odds of developing peanut or multiple food allergies by 12-18 months compared to infants who were exclusively colostrum fed. Late allergen introduction (beyond seven months) further increased peanut allergy risk in partially colostrum fed infants, suggesting partial colostrum feeding may weaken the protective effects of early allergen introduction.
One anomaly was observed, in that no peanut allergy cases were found in infants who received nine or more colostrum feeds within the first 24 hours after birth, regardless of whether or not they were exclusively colostrum fed ie. their diet was supplemented with formula during this period.
With more than a third of neonates worldwide not receiving full colostrum intake after birth, these findings support increasing efforts to boost colostrum feeding and emphasise the need for further research into colostrum’s immunological benefits and impact on long-term health outcomes.
This research was presented at the 2025 AAAAI / WAO Joint Congress, and is published in an online supplement to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).
