Current evidence on the modulatory effects of food proteins and peptides in inflammation and gut microbiota

Abstract

Inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysbalance are common disturbed states at mucosal surfaces that underlay the pathology of several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nowadays, gut health is not only regarded as the absence of GI complaints but also a key approach to maintain general well-being status and prevent chronic illness. Foods and their bioactive compounds including proteins and bioactive peptides can influence the GI health. This chapter provides some introductory concepts on gut homeostasis and the altered mechanisms on IBD, with the aim to describe the potential health benefits of food proteins and peptides in the GI tract. The evidence achieved on the antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities by in vitro models is described. Despite the in vivo evidence is lower, those preventive effects demonstrated against intestinal inflammation in animal models and human trials are highlighted. Noteworthy, the involvement of the gut microbiota modulation as a promising mechanism for food peptides to operate against intestinal inflammation is also summarized. This chapter encourages further research to decipher the relationship between food peptides and gut microbiota on intestinal inflammation, and ultimately advance into the development of food peptide-based functional compounds for IBD and other intestinal inflammatory disorders.