Biofunctional milk proteins: caseinophosphopeptides in perspective

A significant amount of information is available linking consumption of milk proteins with the beneficial modulation of key outcomes associated with diet related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and type two diabetes. While intact milk proteins per se may have some direct health promoting effects, the functional food potential of dairy proteins is mainly attributed to the peptides formed following hydrolysis. Evidence/emerging evidence for the potential role of dairy peptides as hypotensive, mineral binding, immunomodulatory, anticancer, opioid agonist and antagonist, antimicrobial, gut health enhancing, hypo-cholesterolemic, insulinotrophic and neuromodulatory agents now exists. Some information outlining the biofunctional potential of caseinophosphopeptides (CPPs) is presented herein.