Q & A Thursday: does Codral's Immune Boost work against the common cold?
Posted by kathryn in Seasonal Health
The next question is, what’s in Codral’s new Immune Boost formula and does it actually work?
While I haven’t seen any TV ads for this product, it’s being heavily promoted in pharmacies at the moment. It’s winter, there seem to be some particularly bad colds going round this year and everyone’s looking for a way to keep healthy.
Lactoferrin
Codral’s new formula contains lactoferrin, which is a type of glycoprotein. Glycoproteins are molecules that are composed of both protein and carbohydrate. They are common in mammals and in humans, where they’re naturally found in bodily secretions, including breast milk, tears, mucus and saliva.
Lactoferrin is a multi-tasking glycoprotein. It’s involved in the transport of iron around our body, plus it also appears to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. Lactoferrin is anti-inflammatory and also acts on the immune system. Plus it’s an antioxidant – see what I mean about multi-tasking!
What’s Immune Boost made out of?
The lactoferrin in Immune Boost comes from cow’s milk, so it’s unsuitable for vegans. While it doesn’t contain lactose, lactoferrin should be used with caution by people with cow’s milk allergies.
Does it work?
Lactoferrin has been studied quite considerably in vitro, ie in a test tube, where it shows promise. However there’s scant information about it’s use in humans against the common cold.
I also haven’t used it personally, or with any clients, so I can’t even comment from my own experience.
Codral are not the only people using lactoferrin, for example Blackmore’s have a product called Immunodefence, which contains lactoferrin.
Cautions and contraindications
- People with milk protein allergies should be cautious as lactoferrin is derived from cow’s milk.
- It can cause mild diarrhoea in some people.
- Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use lactoferrin.
I’d be really interested to know if any of you have used lactoferrin this season?
26 July, 2007
Comments
I discovered Blackmore’s Immunodefense about 4 months ago, in the throes of one of the worst colds I’d ever had – we’re talking a couple of weeks, not days. Within 24 hours of first taking it, I felt 100)% better, and have been taking it off and on ever since, at the first sign of any slight headache, snuffle or chill. So far so good, I’ve felt very healthy – if this keeps up for more than a year without a cold, I’ll say this is definitely more than a placebo affect – my partner however reckons it’s bollocks :P
Kath, thanks for letting me know about your experience with lactoferrin. The Blackmore’s product is very similar to Codral’s.
The Wikipedia entry on lactoferrin has some links to the research. I think the debate is not over whether it has an effect but how much of an effect. And whether it’s suitable for other, more serious illnesses.
Good luck with your cold-free year!
I used this Codral Immune Boost for two days and got extreme nausea and mild diarohhrea…I think I would rather my body take it’s own time in fighting this cold!
Okay well I work fulltime in a call center for Foxtel, naturally one of the worst places to be in when people have a cold.
I originally got started on Blackmore’s products, such as “Cold Combat” which upon closer inspection was only a combination of Echinacia, Garlic and Vitamin C. Suffice to say, it helped a tiny bit, but really did nothing to take the edge off a cold.
The pharmacist around the corner from my work started to get to recognise me from my frequent visits and suggested I try Immune Boost.
I took two tablets a day, every day and never once caught even the mildest hint of a cold. This is while being in a small room with 15 other people, ALL of which had the flu and were coughing like 5-pack-a-day smokers.
It works.
Now here’s the issue.
If I go a day or two without taking it, I straight away start to feel like I’m coming down with a cold. I don’t know if this is because my body’s become reliant on Immune Boost, or whether working in a call centre isn’t the best enviroment to ween myself off it, but from experience – take it in cycles, it works well but it’s best left for the leadup to a cold to reduce severity.
Nigel, thanks so much for letting us know about your experience. Almost any stressful office environment is a great breeding ground for colds and flus. So you’re right about a call centre being one of the worst places.
I doubt your body will have become reliant on the lactoferrin. It’s more likely that the call centre environment is increasing your exposure to viruses and your body is just not quite able to fend them off. I would only take the product when necessary, and you should have less need for it in the warmer months.
There are also other steps you can take, to keep yourself cold free. Take a look at my post on fending off winter viruses.
And well done to your pharmacist for recommending a preventative product.
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