Lactoferrin Evidence-graded reference

Where lactoferrin occurs

Concentrations by source, and what heat treatment does to them.

Written by Imogen Reddaway Published

Lactoferrin concentration varies by more than an order of magnitude between the sources people casually compare. Human colostrum is by far the richest; mature human milk carries substantially less; bovine milk less again. Quoting one figure without saying which source it describes is the most common error in writing on this subject, and it appears constantly.

Processing matters as much as source. Lactoferrin is a protein, and heat denatures proteins. How much survives depends on the treatment, and the difference between gentle and aggressive pasteurization is large enough to change the answer entirely.

This section covers each source with its measured concentration and the method behind the figure.

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This page reports published research. It is general information, not medical advice, and not a recommendation to take anything. Lactoferrin supplements are derived from cow's milk and are unsuitable for anyone with a milk protein allergy. Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, treating an infant, or managing a diagnosed condition should speak to a clinician first.