Current findings support the potential use of bioactive peptides in enhancing zinc absorption in humans

Evaluating the capability of soybean peptides as calcium ion carriers: a study through sequence analysis and molecular dynamics simulations

“…31 Katimba et al found that the amino acid type and position had an effect on the zinc binding capacity of peptides, which was greater than that of molecular weight. 32 Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate the effect of amino acid sequence on calcium binding capacity. 3.3.1 Hydrophilicity and theoretical charge of peptides.…”

The Molecular Basis for Zinc Bioavailability

“…Several bioactive peptides, which are resistant to hydrolysis and too large to be transported via amino acid transporters, are also capable of increasing the cellular uptake of zinc from cell culture media [ 89 , 90 , 91 ]. Alternatively, it is plausible that soluble zinc-binding ligands in the chyme, within an appropriate range of affinities for zinc, would increase zinc absorption by creating an affinity gradient towards zinc delivery to the active sites of zinc transporters [ 27 ].…”

“…Although data supporting this mechanism of zinc absorption are sparse, the transport of hydrophobic zinc complexes across the plasma membrane may have a limited contribution to dietary zinc absorption. Several bioactive peptides that increase zinc absorption are hydrophobic [ 89 ], a property that may allow zinc-peptide cotransport with lipids. Furthermore, the intragastric administration of essential fatty acids increased the absorption of an oral zinc tracer in a dose-dependent manner in neonatal rats [ 108 ].…”

The Formation, Structural Characteristics, Absorption Pathways and Bioavailability of Calcium–Peptide Chelates

“…Therefore, an understanding of the pathway of the intestinal cell transport peptide is helpful in determining the specific mechanism through which a calcium–peptide chelate promotes calcium absorption. As shown in Figure 3 , the main pathways currently known to transport peptides through the intestinal cells are the PepT1 pathway, the cell-penetrating peptide pathway, both of which are transcellular pathways (similar to the calcium ion transcellular pathway), and the paracellular pathway [ 89 ].…”

“…Paracellular peptide pathways also occur through the tightly linked structures between cells. This pathway transports mainly short peptides (mainly 3–5 amino acids) due to the small pore size of the tight junction structures [ 89 ]. However, some larger peptides that do not pass through PepT1 can be transported using this pathway after hydrolysis.…”