Debunking ARMRA Colostrum: The Real Science Behind the Hype
ARMRA Colostrum has been making waves in the wellness world, with bold claims about boosting immunity, gut health, and even athletic performance. If you’ve seen the ads or influencer endorsements, you might be wondering if it's worth the hype…and the high price tag. In this post, I’m taking a closer look at the science behind colostrum supplements, what the research says, and whether it delivers on its promises.
Let’s start on a high note: Like AG-1, I don’t necessarily have concerns that ARMRA Colostrum is harmful.
Instead, in my opinion, this is yet another example of fancy marketing convincing you that you need something without a lot of solid evidence and a high price point. (I have some ethical questions I continue to noodle too.)
Why am I honing in on ARMRA in particular? Because, like AG-1, I get asked about this one a lot from clients and friends, and I know this one in particular has a huge social media blitz and larger marketing presence overall, so here we are.
That said, whether it’s ARMRA or a similar competitor, we need to explore the actual product itself - colostrum - to understand the root of this noise.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the first form of milk produced by mammals (including humans) after giving birth. It’s a yellow/orange color and turns into breast milk after a few days.
It contains a host of health-supportive and health-promoting nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fats, proteins, vitamin B-12, vitamin K, zinc, growth factors, cytokines, high concentrations of antibodies, and other components that support an infant’s nourishment, immune function, and gut health.
Because colostrum has the power to sustain the life of a baby, it has (not surprisingly) gained attention from the wellness industry for supplements marketed to boost health.
The colostrum supplements on the market these days are primarily bovine (cow) colostrum.
ARMRA Colostrum, specifically, is a bovine colostrum oral supplement (in powder form) designed and marketed to enhance immunity, gut health, athletic performance, plus some anti-aging claims, including “glowier” skin and hair, all for the low price of $110 for 40 days ’ worth.
What Does The Science (Actually) Say?
Bovine colostrum (not brand-specific) has some decent human research studies worth considering, though a few things about the body of research, as a whole, give me pause.
The claims of improved immunity, gut health, and athletic performance mostly come from the same cluster of research studies (a few examples: 1, 2, 3, 4), which tend to be relatively small studies and the bulk of the study subjects - across the literature - are either adult male athletes or critically ill hospitalized patients. So the gut health and immunity effects (for example) are showing improvements specifically in male athletes or sick folks. Does that feel representative of you, or the larger general population this is marketed to?
Or…it’s research funded by colostrum or milk manufacturers.
These frequently cited studies (1, 2) were sponsored by colostrum supplement companies. While that doesn’t automatically invalidate the results, independent human research - beyond male athletes and critically ill patients - is needed, given the broad marketing claims.Orally ingesting bovine colostrum as an “anti-aging” supplement is not supported by any human studies. These claims are based on separate research for individual nutrients found within colostrum, such as amino acids, vitamins, and omega fatty acids. These have - individually - been shown to support skin and hair health, but there’s not necessarily a reason to think that bovine colostrum is a better vehicle than getting them in other ways (such as food).
It’s perhaps “research adjacent” - but it is not direct support for bovine colostrum’s anti-aging claims. For now, there’s no actual guarantee bovine colostrum will deliver the results influencers rave about.
The bulk of the research is conducted on animals or in a petri dish/test tube, which is not necessarily translatable to human effects.
The consensus among experts is that more (human) research is needed before we can say for sure how effective it is in these areas. I’ve looked at the research myself, and I agree.
Is It Safe?
Generally, bovine colostrum supplements are considered safe for most people. However, since colostrum is a dairy product, those with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance should avoid it.
It’s also important to check with your healthcare provider before adding any new supplement to your routine, especially if you take medications or have underlying health conditions.
What About The Ethics?
There’s concern about whether calves get enough colostrum when humans harvest it. Research shows colostrum is most potent within two hours of birth, with therapeutic contents declining significantly after only 12 hours.
Brands like ARMRA claim a “calf-first” approach, meaning they only collect excess colostrum after the calf has had its share…so does that mean a calf’s share is only within those first two hours? 12 hours?
I have questions…
Is it Worth the Heavy Price Tag?
Guess my answer to this one.
What To Consider Instead
As someone who focuses specifically on gut health, I can tell you I haven’t yet recommended colostrum for a single client. Am I against using it in the future for gut health? Not necessarily...but there are about 20 things I’d go to first (and do go to first!) before suggesting colostrum.
And remember, 70-80% of our immune system resides in our gut, so if you go after your gut, you’ll support your immune system too.
If you’re looking for immune, gut health, and anti-aging support, you know what I suggest?
Eat a diverse diet
Get adequate sleep
Engage in joyful movement
Work on stress management
Here’s my PSA for You
There is no magic powder or supplement that replaces the foundational lifestyle habits that science consistently supports for “detoxing”, gut health, immunity, and longevity - or any other area of health you want to support. A diverse diet, restful sleep, regular movement, and effective stress management will always be the most potent, sustainable, and cost-effective ways to support your health.
I also have to say…I get it, 100%. These suggestions may sound “simple” or “basic,” but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. If they were easy, we wouldn’t constantly be searching for the next best thing, quick-fix, magic pill, or shortcut to help us feel better, faster.
Life is busy, stressful, and demanding, and the thought of adding one more thing - like focusing on diet, sleep, movement, or stress management - can feel overwhelming. I hear you, and I hold so much compassion for this; I have been there myself - multiple times. This is one of the foundations for why I do the work that I do - these things aren’t easy.
Another truth? Some of these quick fixes do work, at least in the short term. They can serve an essential purpose of offering temporary relief or a boost when we need it - and I support those uses.
But for real, lasting change - the kind that supports your body for years to come - consider coming back to the basics. They may not be trendy or exciting, but they work.