Colostrum supplements have gained significant attention for their potential to boost immunity, enhance gut health, and support muscle recovery. However, not all colostrum products are created equal.
Zena Colostrum markets itself as an affordable option, but does it actually deliver on its promises?
In this review, we break down the ingredients, effectiveness, and overall value of Zena Colostrum to determine whether it’s worth your investment and why you should look elsewhere for the benefits of colostrum.
Quick Verdict
Zena Colostrum may be cheap, but that’s about the only positive takeaway. At first glance, $20 a month for 90 capsules might seem like a great deal—especially if the capsules were large enough to provide effective doses.
However, when you break down the numbers, it quickly becomes clear that both the capsules and the powder version of Zena Colostrum fall far short of delivering therapeutic doses of its key bioactive compounds.
For those looking for a properly dosed colostrum supplement, Nootrum remains the superior choice. It’s more expensive, but with standardized levels of all four key compounds and a much higher effective dose per serving, it far outperforms Zena.
In fact, one serving of Nootrum is equivalent to 33 doses of Zena Colostrum—yes, 33. Even at a higher price point, the value is clear, as taking just half a dose of Nootrum would still offer far more benefits than Zena at a comparable cost. If results matter to you, Zena Colostrum is unlikely to be worth your money.
What Is Zena Colostrum
Zena Colostrum is a dietary supplement derived from bovine colostrum, the nutrient-rich pre-milk fluid produced by cows in the first few days after giving birth.
Colostrum has long been recognized for its potential health benefits, particularly in supporting the immune system, gut health, and athletic recovery.
The company behind Zena Colostrum markets the product as a natural way to enhance overall wellness, leveraging the bioactive compounds found in colostrum to promote immune function and performance.
The product is offered in a powder and capsule form, both providing a 1.5-gram dose of bovine colostrum.
Colostrum’s real benefits come from key compounds such as Lactoferrin, Immunoglobulins (IgG), Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs), and Growth Factors. T
These components play a vital role in immune support, gut health, tissue repair, and overall performance enhancement.
However, to achieve these benefits, a sufficient and standardized dosage of these compounds is necessary.
Without proper standardization, a significantly higher dosage—around 5 grams—is required to obtain an effective amount of immunoglobulins alone. An even larger amount would be necessary for the full range of benefits.
Unfortunately, Zena Colostrum does not appear to be standardized beyond the average composition of generic colostrum, meaning that the concentrations of these critical bioactive compounds may be insufficient to deliver meaningful health benefits.
Pros
- Cheap—$20 for 30 servings
- Uses bovine colostrum, which at least contains some beneficial compounds
- Capsule format is convenient
Cons
- 1500mg per serving isn’t enough to reach therapeutic levels.
- IgG content (15-25%) is too low—higher-end colostrum brands offer 40%+.
- No standardization for lactoferrin, PRPs, or IGF-1, making it unreliable.
- Less than 1g of protein per serving—essentially useless as a protein source.
- More expensive per gram of active compounds compared to better brands.
Zena Colostrum Ingredients
To truly benefit from colostrum, you need specific therapeutic doses of its key compounds, as used in successful clinical studies:
- Lactoferrin: 200mg+ per day for immune and gut health.
- IgG: At least 40% IgG content for real immune benefits.
- PRPs: 150mg+ per day for immune regulation.
- Growth Factors: 50-100ng per serving for skin health, muscle growth, and recovery.
How does Zena Colostrum compare?
- 1500mg of generic colostrum might sound promising, but since IgG levels are only between 15-25%, this equates to just 225-375mg of IgG—well below the effective range.
- No standardization for lactoferrin, PRPs, or IGF-1 means there’s no way to verify if the supplement contains meaningful amounts of these critical compounds.
- Less than 1g of protein per serving, making it nutritionally insignificant.
At these doses, Zena Colostrum is unlikely to provide the immune support, gut health benefits, or muscle recovery that high-quality colostrum supplements offer.
While it may provide a slight immune boost, it falls far short of delivering the comprehensive benefits expected from a properly formulated colostrum product.
Zena Colostrum Products & Pricing
Zena Colostrum (1500mg per serving)
- Price: $20 for 30 servings
- Serving Size: 3 capsules per day
- Bovine Colostrum: 1500mg per serving
My Experience Taking Zena Colostrum
I gave Zena Colostrum a shot for a few weeks, and honestly? I felt nothing.I understand that, technically, it’s hard to judge immunity as a result, and I always give brands caveats on that when it’s a selling point. Still, the science is not in Zena’s favor for immunity or any other colostrum effects.
With better colostrum products, I’ve experienced noticeable improvements in energy, gut health, and recovery. With Zena? Nothing. No boost in recovery, no noticeable immune support—just low-dose protein powder in capsule form.
Zena Colostrum Benefits
Energy & Immunity
The low IgG concentration (15-25%) indicates that you are not receiving enough immunoglobulins to make a significant change. A decent colostrum supplement has 40% or more IgG—Zena does not even come close. And as for the benefits of growth factors, we’ll be miles away because you’d need pints of non-standardized colostrum.
Gut Health
Lactoferrin is a critical gut-supporting ingredient in colostrum, but Zena does not standardize it. Without 200mg or more of lactoferrin per day, there is no actual gut health benefit.
Muscle Recovery & Growth
IGF-1 is responsible for the muscle-building benefits of colostrum, yet Zena does not standardize for it at all. The best colostrum products include 50-100ng per serving; Zena probably has minimal levels.
Who Should Buy Zena Colostrum?
First-Time Colostrum Users
Zena Colostrum might be a reasonable starting point if you’re new to colostrum supplements and want to see if your body tolerates it without digestive discomfort. It provides a small dose that allows users to gauge their reaction before committing to a more potent, standardized product.
Shoppers Looking for Convenience
If you prefer to buy your supplements in-store and Zena Colostrum is available at a retailer like Costco, it could be a convenient, albeit suboptimal, choice. However, better options exist online that offer superior formulations with proven efficacy
Budget-Conscious Buyers
Zena Colostrum’s low price may appeal to those strictly looking for the cheapest colostrum supplement without prioritizing efficacy. However, considering its underwhelming dosage and lack of standardization, the cost-effectiveness is questionable when compared to higher-quality alternatives.
Customer Reviews on Zena Colostrum
User reviews are best described as mixed. However, there do not appear to be many reviews to go into. Some people seem to believe it is achieving something, but most users say they notice no difference. Those who have tried higher-quality colostrum products always see Zena as very lacking in comparison.
Zena Colostrum Alternative
Nootrum Colostrum
If you’re serious about the benefits of colostrum, Nootrum Colostrum is the superior option. While it costs $50 each bottle, it genuinely delivers on its promises, unlike cheaper colostrum options like Zena, which simply don’t contain enough active compounds to make a significant difference.
Nootrum Colostrum is standardized for therapeutic dosages of important substances such as lactoferrin, immunoglobulins (IgG), PRPs, and IGF-1, which are all essential for immunological support, muscle recovery, gastrointestinal health, and overall well-being.
For example, Nootrum includes 45%+ IgG, which is much higher than Zena’s 15-25%, providing far superior immune support. Lactoferrin and PRPs are also carefully dosed to ensure that you receive the immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits that colostrum is known for.
While $50 per bottle may appear to be more of an upfront expense, Nootrum provides considerably better value in terms of performance. You’re not simply getting bovine colostrum; you’re getting standardized colostrum that contains the therapeutic doses needed for true health benefits.
If you want to get the most out of your colostrum, Nootrum is the only alternative worth considering. You get higher-quality colostrum, and the whole cost-benefit ratio is significantly better, even though the bottle is more expensive than cheaper options.
Summary
While Zena Colostrum may seem like an affordable option, it falls significantly short in delivering effective doses of key bioactive compounds. With insufficient standardization and low IgG content, it is unlikely to provide the advertised immune or gut health benefits.
If you’re looking for a colostrum supplement that actually works, investing in a higher-quality, standardized product like Nootrum is a far better choice in the long run.
Best Colostrum
