Lactoferrin: Iron, Immune & Gut Research (2 Retracted Trials)

Lactoferrin is a protein from milk that carries iron. In one trial of pregnant women with low iron, it raised iron levels as much as an iron pill, with fewer stomach problems. Two other pregnancy trials were retracted, and two COVID-19 trials found no benefit. Our pick: Best Naturals Lactoferrin, $0.36 per 250 mg.

What to buy

Best Naturals Lactoferrin is our pick. It holds 250 mg in one capsule and costs the least per 250 mg of the lactoferrin we link.

Best Naturals Lactoferrin
$0.36 per 250 mg

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Where to go next

Best lactoferrin: every product we scored, ranked by cost per 250 mg.
Iron: if you have low iron, our iron guide covers the iron pills doctors usually suggest.

What lactoferrin does

Lactoferrin is a protein in milk, tears and saliva. It binds iron and is part of the body’s first defense against germs. Almost every supplement uses lactoferrin from cow’s milk. The research is small:

What trials found for each goal, most studied first.
Goal	Evidence	What trials found
Low iron in pregnancy	One trial stands	In a trial of 100 pregnant women, 200 mg a day raised iron levels as much as an iron pill after 30 days, with less stomach pain and constipation. Two other pregnancy trials were retracted (see below).
Chest and throat infections	Some, mostly babies	A review of 6 trials (1,194 people) found fewer infections and favored adding it to baby formula. One author advises a lactoferrin brand.
COVID-19	No benefit	It did not prevent infection in 209 health workers taking 600 mg a day, or help 218 people in the hospital taking 800 mg a day.
H. pylori stomach infection	One trial, with antibiotics	Added to antibiotics, it raised the cure rate in one trial. It was not tested alone.
Premature babies	Hospital use only	In a review of 106 trials, lactoferrin with a probiotic lowered sepsis, a serious infection, in premature babies. This is hospital care, not a store capsule.

Two pregnancy trials were retracted

Two trials that favored lactoferrin over iron treatment in pregnant women were retracted in 2023 (Rezk 2016, Darwish 2019), and we do not count them. Treat any “lactoferrin beats iron” claim with care.

How much to take

The iron trial we cite used 200 mg a day, and most capsules hold 250 or 300 mg. We found no trial showing that a higher dose works better. Check how many capsules make one serving: some brands need 3 capsules for 300 mg. Our ranking compares the cost of 250 mg.

Is lactoferrin safe?

For most people, yes. In the hospital COVID-19 trial, 800 mg a day was safe and well tolerated (Matino 2023). A few things to check:

Milk-protein allergy: skip it. Lactoferrin is a milk protein.
Pregnant, or treated for low iron: ask your doctor before using it in place of iron.
No official daily limit has been set.

Want the low-iron form, called apolactoferrin? Jarrow Formulas is the only one we link whose label names it. It costs more per 250 mg than our pick.

Jarrow Formulas Lactoferrin
250 mg apolactoferrin

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Questions people ask

Can lactoferrin replace an iron pill?

Not without your doctor. One trial in pregnant women found it worked as well as an iron pill, and two other trials that agreed were retracted. If you have low iron, ask before you switch.

Is lactoferrin the same as colostrum?

No. Colostrum is the first milk a cow makes, and lactoferrin is one of many proteins in it. Our colostrum guide covers colostrum itself.

Can I take lactoferrin if I am lactose intolerant?

Usually, yes. A capsule holds a few hundred milligrams of one milk protein. A milk-protein allergy is different: skip lactoferrin if you have one.

Sources

Nappi C, et al. “Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: a prospective controlled randomized study.” Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009. PubMed 19639462

Ali AS, et al. “Lactoferrin reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021. PubMed 34620326

Navarro R, et al. “Bovine lactoferrin for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in health care personnel: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial (LF-COVID).” Biometals. 2023. PubMed 36474100

Matino E, et al. “Effect of Lactoferrin on Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: The LAC Randomized Clinical Trial.” Nutrients. 2023. PubMed 36904283

Hablass FH, et al. “Efficacy of Lactoferrin with Standard Triple Therapy or Sequential Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Turk J Gastroenterol. 2021. PubMed 34609303

Wang Y, et al. “Probiotics, Prebiotics, Lactoferrin, and Combination Products for Prevention of Mortality and Morbidity in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.” JAMA Pediatr. 2023. PubMed 37782505

Retraction notices: “RETRACTED ARTICLE: Lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: a randomized clinical trial.” J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2023. PubMed 37466255; “Statement of Retraction: lactoferrin plus health education versus total dose infusion (TDI) of low-molecular weight (LMW) iron dextran for treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.” J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2023. PubMed 36658737