You may be unfamiliar with the term “peptide,” but it is actually very close to our daily lives. Simply put, a peptide is a small protein fragment composed of two or more linked amino acids. When we consume dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, their proteins (e.g., casein and whey protein) are broken down into various peptides during digestion. Some of these peptides possess special physiological regulatory functions and are known as bioactive peptides.
These peptides are far more than ordinary nutritional fragments. A growing body of research suggests that they may play an important role in cardiometabolic health. For example, certain milk-derived bioactive peptides can act as prebiotics, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria (such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) while inhibiting harmful pathogens. This helps strengthen the intestinal barrier and reduce systemic inflammatory responses.
Such anti-inflammatory effects are closely related to the regulation of key signaling pathways: milk-derived peptides can suppress the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, reducing the release of pro-inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α and IL-6), thereby alleviating chronic low-grade inflammation associated with atherosclerosis and insulin resistance.
In terms of lipid metabolism, these peptides can also downregulate HMG-CoA reductase—a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis—to reduce cholesterol production. They activate the PPARα/AMPK signaling pathway, promoting fatty acid oxidation and improving the blood lipid profile (e.g., increasing HDL and lowering triglycerides), thus potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
In the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), milk-derived bioactive peptides have also been found to enhance insulin sensitivity. They achieve this by activating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway and promoting the translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4 to the cell membrane, helping cells take up glucose more efficiently.
In addition, they can stimulate the intestine to secrete incretin hormones such as GLP-1, further improving glycemic control.