Colostrum has long attracted attention in sports nutrition for its ability to improve post-exercise recovery and immune balance.
Studies have shown that supplementation with bovine colostrum can reduce systemic inflammation, enhance recovery, and support athletic performance. However, these benefits have traditionally required very high doses (20-60 g/day) – limiting their practicality in consumer products.¹⁻²
Colostrum is a complex biological fluid containing immunoglobulins, proteins, and growth factors, each contributing to its functional activity. While growth factors can play a role in tissue repair, their effects are not without limitations, as variability in activity and stability may influence their overall impact.
Recent research highlights additional, and perhaps more consistent, mechanisms of action: modulating exercise-induced inflammation, supporting the regulation of the inflammatory phase, and influencing the gut-muscle axis.³⁻⁴
This distinction is important. It allows for next-generation colostrum innovations that deliver measurable benefits through regulated physiological processes, without the variability or concerns associated with hormone-linked pathways.
What happens in muscles after strength training?
Strength training places controlled stress on muscle fibers, triggering two key biological processes:
- Structural stress and membrane disruption Muscle fibers undergo microtears, leading to leakage of creatine kinase (CK) into the bloodstream – a natural marker of muscle stress and adaptation.
- Local inflammation Exercise triggers an inflammatory response, reflected in elevated C-reactive protein (CRP).
This inflammation is essential. It recruits immune cells to clear debris and signal repair – the first step toward building stronger muscle fibers. But the critical point is regulation.
When inflammation is regulated in a timely and controlled way:
- Muscles progress into the anabolic phase, where protein synthesis begins and fibers grow stronger.
- Athletes experience less delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and return to training sooner.
If inflammation is not properly regulated, the anabolic phase cannot fully begin. Muscles remain in a stressed or catabolic state, impairing growth, delaying recovery, and – in chronic cases – contributing to systemic inflammation, joint stress, and long-term pain.
Effective recovery is therefore not about suppressing inflammation, but about ensuring its healthy regulation, enabling the body to progress seamlessly from damage to growth.
Colostrum-based, indication-specific ingredients
Maolac applied AI-driven protein mapping to identify and refine colostrum proteins most similar to human milk proteins – long considered the gold standard in human nutrition – and most relevant for muscle recovery.
In recent years, some athletes have turned to drinking human breast milk, believing it might offer a performance edge. While such practices made headlines, experts emphasize that breast milk’s biofunctional components are largely degraded in adult digestion and not validated for performance use. Moreover, despite being safe when sourced and stored properly, it offers no proven benefit in adults.
This fascination underscores a truth: human milk proteins are uniquely aligned with human physiology. By mapping these proteins and isolating their biofunctional equivalents in bovine colostrum, Maolac created a safe, scalable, and clinically validated solution that captures these benefits – without the risks.
MaolactinFMR™ is therefore more than ‘just colostrum’. It is:
- A hormone-free, growth factor-free ingredient focused on recovery mechanisms
- Effective at 360 mg/day, more than 100x lower than traditional colostrum doses
- Neutral in taste, WADA-compliant, and practical for formulations including capsules, powders, gummies, and drinks
Clinically validated results
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at RDC Research (30 healthy adults, 8 weeks, 360 mg/day), MaolactinFMR™ demonstrated:⁵
- Reduced cumulative CK burden Less overall muscle damage
- Accelerated CRP resolution Faster inflammation recovery and healthier repair
- Lower lactate at 48h post-exercise Improved systemic recovery
- Reduced DOMS Quicker return to training
This study was designed and led by Dr. David Briskey at RDC Clinical. The study was conducted as a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and adhering to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards for human research.
Such rigorous design and oversight ensure that the observed benefits – reduced muscle damage, faster recovery, and improved readiness – can be attributed with confidence to MaolactinFMR™.
Real-world validation
In a one-arm usage study with 100 active adults, MaolactinFMR™ supplementation led to:⁶
- 72% reporting faster recovery
- 49% reduction in post-exercise soreness
- 51% reduction in exercise-related cramps
These outcomes confirm that MaolactinFMR™ is not only effective in controlled settings but also practical and impactful for real-world active individuals.
Why indication-specific matters
The nutraceutical industry is evolving beyond broad ‘super-ingredients’ toward precision bioactives with clear indications. Athletes and active consumers no longer want vague wellness claims – they want targeted, science-backed solutions they can trust.
MaolactinFMR™ represents this future: a colostrum-based ingredient with a specific indication – muscle recovery. With validated mechanisms, clinical evidence, and real-world proof, it sets a new benchmark for functional performance nutrition.
Recognition for scientific innovation
Maolactin FMR’s scientific merit has also been recognized internationally. It received the New Ingredient Excellence (NIE) Award in October 2025, and the NutraIngredients-Asia Start-Up Award in September 2025, acknowledging Maolac’s evidence-based approach and innovation in translating colostrum and breast-milk proteomics into clinically supported nutritional solutions
References
- Shing, C. M.; et al. The influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in highly trained athletes. British Journal of Nutrition. 2009; 102(7), 1113–1124.
- Hofman, Z.; et al. The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in elite field hockey players. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002 Dec;12(4):461-9.
- Davison, G.; et al. Bovine colostrum supplementation attenuates the decrease of salivary lysozyme and enhances the recovery of neutrophil function after prolonged exercise. Br J Nutr. 2010 May;103(10):1425-32.
- Lechner, M.; et al. Bovine colostrum supplementation reduces inflammation and supports immune function in young football players: A randomized trial. Nutrients. 2023; 15(3), 621.
- Briskey, D.; et al. Effect of MaolactinFMR™ supplementation on biomarkers of recovery and performance: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Internal Clinical Report. 2025. Not yet published.
- Effect of MaolactinFMR™ on muscle recovery in healthy active adults: a single-arm consumer benefits study (n=100), Unpublished study.
