A review: dairy phospholipids in human nutrition

Abstract

More than six billion people worldwide consume dairy products every day. Dairy products and their constituents contain hundreds of different components, but milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) polar lipids are still underestimated from a nutritional point of view. The unique composition of phospholipids (PLs) – the main MFGM component – provides high nutraceutical properties. Therefore, the research of bioactive dairy components and their impact has promising potential in human health by various mechanisms. The positive effects of MFGM PLs are mainly based on animal studies, but there are a small number of in vivo studies with volunteers. The present study aimed to review the research findings of dairy PLs in human nutrition and their functional properties. Dairy PLs effectively impact intestinal integrity and gut microbiota, lipid profile and risk lowering of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cognitive performance during stress, and neonatal brain development.