The Nutraceutical Alpha Lipid ColostemTMModulates Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow Stem Cell Subsets following Oral Supplementation

Abstract

Alpha Lipid Colostem TM is a proprietary blend of colostrum and other natural ingredients, designed to enhance stem cell activity following consumption. Previous animal feeding studies demonstrated that oral supplementation increased the frequency of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. To further characterise the steady-state effect of this supplement on stem cell activity, a feeding study was conducted in groups of mice (n=5 per group) to investigate circulating as well as bone marrow hematopoietic and mesenchymal/stromal stem cell subsets using multi-colour flow cytometry-based methodologies. The results demonstrated that supplementation increased the number and proportion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in the blood, suggesting there was effective release of stem cells from the bone marrow niche into the circulation. Analysis of bone marrow cells showed a concomitant reduction in the proportion of total HSC, however within the HSC compartment there was a relative increase of CD34 + c-Kit + and reduction in CD34 + Sca-1 + HSC subsets. Mesenchymal/stromal stem cell (CD105 + CD29 + ) numbers showed a decrease in the peripheral blood, with an increased proportion detected in the bone marrow. Alpha Lipid Colostem supplementation also correlated with increased the number of blood granulocytes demonstrating enhancement of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation. These findings further strengthen the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with a synergistic combination of bovine colostrum and immune stimulatory carbohydrates promotes coherent activation of the stem cell niche.