A new study found that lactoferrin (bLf) is remarkably helpful at calming the bladder wall and preventing IC flares. Thirty one patients with an active history of IC flares in the previous six months used lactoferrin (Valpalf®) for 17 weeks.(1) Out of 31 patients, 28 women experienced no IC flares after treatment while only 3 experienced just one flare. Remarkably, a significant decrease of inflammatory markers (serum IL-6 and D-dimers) was found after treatment. Most intriguing was the improvement in the appearance of the bladder wall. Both inflammation and Hunner’s ulcers resolved and their bladders apparently returned to its normal pink color. No side effects were reported. In 2022, this same research team found that bLf can effectively inhibit cystitis caused by Escherichia coli, making this a viable option for those struggling with recurring UTI.(2)

What is lactoferrin?

Lactoferrin is a natural glycoprotein found in the breast milk of most mammals as well as our tears, saliva, seminal and vaginal fluids. Discovered in 1939, it has been extensively studied showing its remarkable role in sustaining our health. Lactoferrin has been found to have anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It acts by preventing microorganisms from using iron to grow and is now used therapeutically for a number of health conditions, including anemia, helicobacter pylori (stomach ulcers), inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis C, common colds, viral and fungal infections. Lactoferrin provides a strong anti-inflammatory effect on injuries as well as infections. (3)

What makes Lactoferrin truly surprising is the anti-cancer activity it provides. Both human and bovine lactoferrin have been shown to slow or stop tumor growth, tumor survival, migration and metastatis.(3,4) Indeed, its presence in breast milk may help explain why women who have had children and breast fed have lower breast cancer rates than those who have not. (5)

Lactoferrin has been used in the treatment of obesity and has been shown to improve the gut microbiome, reduce inflammation, reduce body weight, fat accumulation, glucose metabolism and liver steatosis, i.e. fatty liver. (3,6)

Of interest to IC’ers who struggle with dry eye disease, lactoferrin helps to improve eye health and tear production, preserving the surface of the eye in patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome. (7)

Lactoferrin is essentially a first line of defense in our immune system with many beneficial activities that help to defend us against both disease and injury. Dr Superti (Italy) published an exhaustive review of the research related to lactoferrin use and function, concluding that lactoferrin  “defends us throughout our life, from birth to old age, is safe and is considered by the US FDA as a GRAS product no contraindications in patients of all ages.” (3)

One IC Patient Finds Relief!

When the lactoferrin IC study was released last summer, I was impressed by the study and the results. Typically, you don’t see supplement studies perform the depth of analysis this study did, including performing cystoscopies to look at the bladder before and after treatment, but also to objectively measure inflammatory markers. Both improved dramatically after lactoferrin treatment with reddened inflamed bladders becoming pink and healthy, with Hunner’s lesions apparently healing.

ICN member (LB) has a long history of Hunner’s lesions. Yesterday, she shared that she hadn’t slept more than an hour at a time for more than a decade. She’s been on lactoferrin for the past two months and is now sleeping more than three hours at a time.  She said “It’s amazing. Do you know what it’s like to have sleep like that?”  She’s also reporting that the pain and bladder spasms that she normally feels while driving have dramatically improved. She said “I recently drove two hours away from my home and didn’t have to go to the bathroom once. Normally, I would be stopping several times. I am better. I’m not symptom free yet but I am absolutely better. No question about it.”  I’ve had a few more patients share that they, too, are beginning to feel better though it is still quite early with another saying that she stopped it because it upset her stomach.

So why would lactoferrin help Hunner’s lesions specifically. Multiple studies have now linked the Epstein-Barr virus (and others) to Hunner’s lesions.(8) With lactoferrin’s proven antiviral effect, it may be suppressing their growth.

Treatment Protocol

The European IC study used Valpalf®, a lactoferrin product that also includes a little sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate.

From March 2022 to February 2024, 31 women with IC/PBS were included in this retrospective survey.  The women ranged in age from 23 to 84 year and had at least one flare in the six months prior to the study. They received five capsules of Valpalf® (1000mg total of lactoferrin) for 7 days before meals to avoid the gastric degradation (Rosa et al. 2020), 400mg of lactoferrin for 30 days (one in the morning and one in the afternoon before meals) and 200mg in the morning before meals for 90 days. Follow-up started from the week after the end of treatment (18th week) until further 16 weeks. The results were astonishing with improvements in pain, frequency, a reduction in inflammatory markers and, as noted above, a return to normal pink skin after treatment.

Because Valpalf® is not available in the USA, we brought in a high quality lactoferrin from Australia which comes in 300mg capsules or in powder form.  So, if you wanted to try a similar approach, you could try three a day for a week (900mg), two a day for two weeks (600mg) and then one day (300mg) for three months.

Please note that not all lactoferrin on the market is equal. The key is the bioavailability. This lactoferrin is in delayed-release capsules that will protect it while transporting it into the intestine. The powder form is a great work around for those who struggle with swallowing capsules or pills though it will be affected by the stomach acid.

Conclusion – It Might Be Worth A Try

Given the thousands of studies out there proving the role of lactoferrin in our immune system as well its safety, it made sense to share this with other patients, especially those who struggle with Hunner’s lesions. Yes, we certainly would like to see larger studies with IC.

I suggest that you do your own research, particularly by looking at the studies below. I think you’ll find that this is certainly worthy of further research and, perhaps, a try.

References:

  1. Rosa L, et al. Lactoferrin in the treatment of interstitial cystitis: a retrospective pilot study. Biochem Cell Biol. 2024 Aug 1. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2024-0036.
  2. Conte AL,  et al. Effect of bovine lactoferrin on recurrent urinary tract infections: in vitro and in vivo evidences. Biometals. 2023 Jun;36(3):491-507. Epub 2022 Jun 29.
  3. Superti, F. (2020). Lactoferrin from Bovine Milk: A Protective Companion for Life. Nutrients, 12(9), 2562. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092562
  4. Pan S, Weng H, et al. Lactoferrin may inhibit the development of cancer via its immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory activities (Review). Int J Oncol. 2021 Nov;59(5):85.
  5. Surdacka LM, et al. Epigenetic and Immune Mechanisms Linking Breastfeeding to Lower Breast Cancer Rates. Med Sci Monit. 2024 Nov 5;30:e945451.
  6. Wang W, at al. Lactoferrin alleviates chronic low‑grade inflammation response in obese mice by regulating intestinal flora. Mol Med Rep. 2024 Aug;30(2):138.
  7. Dogru M, et al. Lactoferrin in Sjögren’s syndrome. Ophthalmology 2007, 114, 2366–2367.
  8. Osborne J. New research reveals viral infections in some IC patients. IC Network. June 12, 2020.