Compound or practice · Nutrition
Lactoferrin
An iron-binding milk protein with real signals for gut immunity, iron status and acne — versatile, promising, still maturing.
- Overall grade
- Grade C
- Last revised
- 3
- graded outcomes
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade B · 2 at grade C — 3 graded rows
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Iron status (pregnancy)Evidence grade B
Gentler than iron salts
Moderatemixed
- Gut infections (infants)Evidence grade C
Preventive
Smallmixed
- AcneEvidence grade C
Modest
Smallmixed
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Gut infections (infants) (grade C); Acne (grade C).
- Studies disagree: Iron status (pregnancy) (mixed agreement).
Interactions
Documented pairings with supplements and medicines. A medicine on this list is a conversation for whoever prescribes it.
IronWorks together
Improves iron status with better GI tolerance than iron salts alone.
The evidence in words
What it is
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in milk and secretions, sold for immune, gut and iron support.
How it works
By sequestering iron it starves pathogens and modulates the gut microbiome and immune signaling; it also aids iron delivery to the host.
What the evidence shows
Trials support lactoferrin for improving iron status in pregnancy (comparable to iron salts with fewer GI effects), reducing infantile gut infections, and modestly improving acne. Broader immune and H. pylori claims are weaker. A genuinely multifunctional protein with several small positive trials.
Safety & interactions
Generally very safe (it's a food protein); rare GI upset. Bovine-milk-derived — a consideration for severe milk allergy. Iron — Improves iron status with better GI tolerance than iron salts alone.
Bottom line
A legitimately useful milk protein for iron status and gut immunity, with modest acne data. Reasonable, well-tolerated, evidence still building.
Goes with
- IronImproves iron status with better GI tolerance than iron salts alone.Evidence grade A
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Lactoferrin for AcneEvidence grade C — ModestEvidence grade C
- Lactoferrin for Gut infections (infants)Evidence grade C — PreventiveEvidence grade C
- Lactoferrin for Iron status (pregnancy)Evidence grade B — Gentler than iron saltsEvidence grade B
- Lactoferrin: side effects, safety & interactionsGenerally very safe (it's a food protein); rare GI upset. Bovine-milk-derived — a consideration for severe milk allergy.Evidence grade C
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.