Exploring food-derived bioactive peptides: Efficacy, mechanisms, and clinical implications in ferroptosis regulation

Background

Bioactive peptides (BAPs) derived from food proteins have emerged as important nutritional components with potential health benefits. Recent studies have suggested that they modulate cellular processes related to ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death that has been associated with various diseases.

Scope and approach

This review summarizes recent advances in the sourcing, production, stability, bioavailability, and clinical efficacy of BAPs. Furthermore, the potential antiferroptosis mechanisms of BAPs, including glutathione synthesis, oxidative stress, iron metabolism, and the mevalonate pathway, are explored.

Key finding

s: Evidence suggests that BAPs produce significant antiferroptotic effects by enhancing antioxidant defenses and maintaining cellular homeostasis. In addition, mechanistic insights reveal that BAPs influence the key signaling pathways involved in ferroptosis, thus offering potential therapeutic targets. The clinical implications of BAPs in ferroptosis regulation are substantial, particularly for conditions such as acute kidney injury, inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and acute lung injury. However, although the potential applications of BAPs as dietary interventions are promising, challenges associated with their bioavailability and stability require addressal to facilitate their use in clinical practice.