Bovine colostrum is secreted by cows during the first few days after calving and is a rich source of bioactive components, including growth factors. The present study employed a double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel, randomised design to determine the effect of supplementation with a low fat, low lactose, concentrated bovine colostrum protein powder (intact™, NorthField Laboratories Pty Ltd) on rowing performance in a group of elite female rowers. 8 female rowers from the South Australian Sports Institute (Age 15-21 years), completed a 9 week training program whilst consuming 60 g/day of intact™ bovine colostrum powder (CP, n=3) or whey protein powder (WP, n=5). All subjects consumed their normal diets and kept food diaries throughout the study period. Subjects completed 2 x 4-step rowing tests (ROW1 and ROW2) at weeks 0 and 9, consisting of 3 x 4 min sub-maximal loads and 1 x 4 min maximal effort. ROW1 and ROW2 were separated by 15 minutes of recovery. There were no differences in dietary intake (P>0.05) or training volumes (P>0.05) between the two groups during the study period. The distances covered (m) and work done (kJ) during the submaximal work loads were the same in both groups at weeks 0 and 9 (P>0.91) and during the 4 min maximal efforts at week 0 (P>0.05). There were greater increases in the distance covered (CP, 33.7 ± 2.3 m, WP, 23.2 ± 2.3 m; P=0.05) and work done (CP, 6.3 ± 0.1 kJ, WP, 4.2 ± 0.4 kJ; P=0.004) during the 4 min maximal effort of ROW1 in CP by week 9. Buffer capacity was also higher in CP by week 9 (P=0.02). Distance covered (P=0.03) and work done (P=0.05) during the 4 min maximal effort of ROW2 also increased more in CP. These results indicate that oral supplementation with intact™ bovine colostrum improves rowing performance in elite female rowers.
© Copyright 1999 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences with the Annual Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 1999. All rights reserved.