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The expansive role of lactoferrin in human health is becoming clear. Its claim to fame is as an immune defense and immune-orchestrated repair nutrient, especially for the digestive tract. Additionally, an emerging body of science shows that it is a superior nutrient for bone and joint health, and likely all connective tissue.
It excels at assisting tasks that are needed by a newborn child, when levels are high from nursing. One of these tasks is rapid growth, which means tissues must be protected from potential stressors while being assisted to rapidly grow. These same mechanisms can be taken advantage of by adults, who are often in an age-associated wear and tear trend. Lactoferrin appears to have excellent anti-aging properties in terms of tissue regeneration assistance.
Several years back I reported that lactoferrin stimulates hyaluronic acid production in skin fibroblasts, which clearly helps the health of skin. Fibroblasts are active in many connective tissues, indicating potential help with connective tissue rejuvenation anywhere in the body.
I also reported on the emerging science showing that lactoferrin helps stimulate bone-building osteoblasts while calming down bone-deteriorating osteoclasts. Since this time two additional studies on lactoferrin and bone health have been published. One of them documents molecular mechanisms that lead to improved bone mass and better quality of bone structure. The other documents how lactoferrin directly signals bone-structure to prevent deterioration. The researchers point out that such mechanisms not only relate to the osteoclast-driven process of bone loss but also to significant inflammatory problems that cause periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Another research group has published two studies showing that lactoferrin prevents the destruction of joint cartilage. It reduces inflammation signals as well as specific signals that cause cartilage decay. They have demonstrated that a key go signal in chondrocytes (cartilage building carpenter cells) is lacking in osteoarthritis and this signal is turned back on by lactoferrin, helping to promote cartilage rejuvenation. The authors conclude that lactoferrin “may be utilized for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.”
All of these studies show common modes of operation. Lactoferrin directly reduces inflammatory signaling that is inducing wear and tear. Additionally, regardless of the tissue type, it sends out signals that prevent the tissue from being degraded while also signaling to help it rejuvenate.
Just as lactoferrin possesses broad-spectrum germ defense properties, it appears to also have broad-spectrum tissue anti-aging properties and will work synergistically with a variety of other body structure support nutrients.
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It excels at assisting tasks that are needed by a newborn child, when levels are high from nursing. One of these tasks is rapid growth, which means tissues must be protected from potential stressors while being assisted to rapidly grow. These same mechanisms can be taken advantage of by adults, who are often in an age-associated wear and tear trend. Lactoferrin appears to have excellent anti-aging properties in terms of tissue regeneration assistance.
Several years back I reported that lactoferrin stimulates hyaluronic acid production in skin fibroblasts, which clearly helps the health of skin. Fibroblasts are active in many connective tissues, indicating potential help with connective tissue rejuvenation anywhere in the body.
I also reported on the emerging science showing that lactoferrin helps stimulate bone-building osteoblasts while calming down bone-deteriorating osteoclasts. Since this time two additional studies on lactoferrin and bone health have been published. One of them documents molecular mechanisms that lead to improved bone mass and better quality of bone structure. The other documents how lactoferrin directly signals bone-structure to prevent deterioration. The researchers point out that such mechanisms not only relate to the osteoclast-driven process of bone loss but also to significant inflammatory problems that cause periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Another research group has published two studies showing that lactoferrin prevents the destruction of joint cartilage. It reduces inflammation signals as well as specific signals that cause cartilage decay. They have demonstrated that a key go signal in chondrocytes (cartilage building carpenter cells) is lacking in osteoarthritis and this signal is turned back on by lactoferrin, helping to promote cartilage rejuvenation. The authors conclude that lactoferrin “may be utilized for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.”
All of these studies show common modes of operation. Lactoferrin directly reduces inflammatory signaling that is inducing wear and tear. Additionally, regardless of the tissue type, it sends out signals that prevent the tissue from being degraded while also signaling to help it rejuvenate.
Just as lactoferrin possesses broad-spectrum germ defense properties, it appears to also have broad-spectrum tissue anti-aging properties and will work synergistically with a variety of other body structure support nutrients.
More...