Role of Bioactive Peptide Sequences in the Potential Impact of Dairy Protein Intake on Metabolic Health

Abstract

For years, there has been an increasing move towards elucidating the complexities of how food can interplay with the signalling networks underlying energy homeostasis and glycaemic control. Dairy foods can be regarded as the greatest source of proteins and peptides with various health benefits and are a well-recognized source of bioactive compounds. A number of dairy protein-derived peptide sequences with the ability to modulate functions related to the control of food intake, body weight gain and glucose homeostasis have been isolated and characterized. Their being active in vivo may be questionable mainly due to expected low bioavailability after ingestion, and hence their real contribution to the metabolic impact of dairy protein intake needs to be discussed. Some reports suggest that the differential effects of dairy proteins—in particular whey proteins—on mechanisms underlying energy balance and glucose-homeostasis may be attributed to their unique amino acid composition and hence the release of free amino acid mixtures enriched in essential amino acids (i.e., branched-chain-amino acids) upon digestion. Actually, the research reports reviewed in this article suggest that, among a number of dairy protein-derived peptides isolated and characterized as bioactive compounds in vitro, some peptides can be active in vivo post-oral administration through a local action in the gut, or, alternatively, a systemic action on specific molecular targets after entering the systemic circulation. Moreover, these studies highlight the importance of the enteroendocrine system in the cross talk between food proteins and the neuroendocrine network regulating energy balance.

A2 Milk and BCM-7 Peptide as Emerging Parameters of Milk Quality

“…This is the mechanism potentially underlying the association of BCM-7 with several negative health outcomes, including type I diabetes, childhood mental disorders such as autism, the sudden infant death syndrome, and atopic dermatitis. One revision ( 20 ) has recently proposed a correlation between BCM-7 and digestive discomfort induced by a pro-inflammatory effect due to the same molecular mechanism in rodents. The suggested path is that of the activation of the opioid receptors in the gut, which could alter its microbial composition, with a subsequent impairment of the gut barrier integrity and bile acid metabolism.…”

Milk Protein-Based Edible Films: Influence on Mechanical, Hydrodynamic, Optical and Antioxidant Properties

“…Milk proteins possess high nutritional and functional properties. For instance, they modulate the digestive, immune, cardiovascular, endocrine and central nervous systems and possess activities such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, mineral binding, and opioid-like activities [5]. Their bioactive peptides regulate functions related to food intake, body weight gain and glucose homeostasis.…”

“…Edible films based on whey proteins show resistance to oxygen permeability and adequate mechanical, sensorial and optical properties, but they are sensitive to moisture [5]. In this sense, the literature has shown some studies evaluating the different features and effects of whey-based edible films.…”

Application of a Combined Peptidomics and In Silico Approach for the Identification of Novel Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV-Inhibitory Peptides in In Vitro Digested Pinto Bean Protein Extract

“…Bioactive peptides exhibit various physiological activities including anti-hypertensive effect, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activities, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities [5][6][7]. To date, milk proteins of various origins (such as bovine, goat, sheep, camel and buffalo) have been the ones most considered as precursors of bioactive peptides [8][9][10]. Nevertheless, some recent studies were designed for the identification of bioactive peptides derived from others animal proteins, especially from meat proteins of different species [7,11].…”