Mechanisms and applications of milk‐derived bioactive peptides in Food for Special Medical Purposes

Summary Milk protein is a high‐quality protein in human diet and a crucial source of bioactive peptides (BAPs) due to its unique nutritional and biological functions. Milk‐derived BAP has been proven to be able to regulate the cardiovascular, immune, digestive and nervous systems. Recently, milk‐derived BAP has a lot of attention in the area of food and biomedicine, especially Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), a novel solution to nutrition management for patients. In this article of review, the mechanisms of milk‐derived BAP in nutrition management are described, including mechanisms for antithrombosis, antihypertension, antibacteria, regulation of the immune system, inhibition of fat synthesis, promotion of trace element absorption, regulation of intestinal microecological environment and analgesia. Applications of milk‐derived BAP in FSMP are also summarised, with the view of providing a theoretical reference for the field of FSMP on precise nutritional support.