Assessing immune parameters among cow urine consumers in diverse Indian settlements: An observational study

• Author Details:   
• Nikita Pandit
• Chetana Deoghare ^*

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Background: Indigenous cow urine (ICU) is a revered agent in traditional Indian medicine with purported immunomodulatory properties. However, systematic observational data comparing its effects across diverse populations is lacking and further study among the Indian population is recommended.

Aims & Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between habitual ICU consumption and immune system parameters in two distinct Indian populations: traditional rural inhabitants and core urban dwellers for their immune body functionalities.

Materials and Methods: A comparative, cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Village Bhadoriya (rural) and Indore city (urban) in Madhya Pradesh. A total of 240 participants were stratified into four groups: Rural Consumers, Rural Non-Consumers, Urban Consumers, and Urban Non-Consumers (n=60 each). Fasting blood samples were analysed for innate and adaptive immune markers, cytokine profiles, and oxidative stress markers. A subset (n=20/group) provided faecal samples for 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing.

Results: Significant positive associations were found between ICU consumption and enhanced immune markers, with more pronounced effects in the rural cohort. Rural consumers showed higher NK cell activity and IgG levels. Urban consumers showed a higher CD4/CD8 ratio and lower IL-6. Both consumer groups exhibited improved antioxidant status (higher SOD/catalase, lower MDA) and rural consumers showed greater gut microbial diversity.

Conclusion: Habitual ICU consumption is associated with favourable immunomodulatory and antioxidant profiles, particularly in a traditional rural setting. These findings support the ethnopharmacological basis for ICU's use and highlight the need for further mechanistic research.