Food & Beverage Applications for Lactoferrin

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What are the mechanisms by which lactoferrin has its benefits?

 Part of the mechanism  is believed to be lactoferrin’s ability to bind iron, meaning it competes with the bacteria for iron inhibiting the microbe’s growth. Another potential mechanism responsible for lactoferrin’s antimicrobial activity is that it binds to the bacteria, therefore stopping it from binding to cells inside the body.

Lactoferrin has also been suggested to have a prebiotic benefit in the large intestine. Upon digestion of lactoferrin, bioactive peptides are released, which have been shown to enhance the growth of bifidobacteria. This may be another mechanism by which this unique whey protein fraction exerts an immunomodulatory benefit, as the gut microbiome is known to influence immune function.

• As an iron-binding protein, meaning it competes with the bacteria for iron and thus helps inhibit its’ growth. 

• Binding to the bacteria, therefore stopping it from binding to cells inside the body. (Salaris et al, 2021; Hu et al, 2021). 

• Binding to receptors on the host cells, thus competing with viruses for cell adhesion and blocking them from binding to and entering 

the host cell (Lönnerdal, 2009). 

• Having a prebiotic effect from several bioactive peptides released  during digestion (Liepke et al, 2002)