Journal
NUTRIENTS
Volume 14, Issue 24, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/nu14245274
Keywords
lactoferrin; nutraceutical; food; dairy; COVID-19; coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; anti-viral; immunomodulation; iron-binding
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This narrative review highlights the potential role of bovine milk protein lactoferrin (LF) in combating COVID-19. LF has been found to exhibit anti-viral, anti-microbial, and immunomodulatory properties, making it a potential candidate for nutritional interventions against SARS-CoV-2 infection and related COVID-19 pathogenesis. In vitro and in vivo studies have explored the mechanisms underlying LF's effects during different phases of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Notwithstanding mass vaccination against specific SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is still a demand for complementary nutritional intervention strategies to fight COVID-19. The bovine milk protein lactoferrin (LF) has attracted interest of nutraceutical, food and dairy industries for its numerous properties-ranging from anti-viral and anti-microbial to immunological-making it a potential functional ingredient in a wide variety of food applications to maintain health. Importantly, bovine LF was found to exert anti-viral activities against several types of viruses, including certain SARS-CoV-2 variants. LF's potential effect on COVID-19 patients has seen a rapid increase of in vitro and in vivo studies published, resulting in a model on how LF might play a role during different phases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aim of this narrative review is two-fold: (1) to highlight the most relevant findings concerning LF's anti-viral, anti-microbial, iron-binding, immunomodulatory, microbiota-modulatory and intestinal barrier properties that support health of the two most affected organs in COVID-19 patients (lungs and gut), and (2) to explore the possible underlying mechanisms governing its mode of action. Thanks to its potential effects on health, bovine LF can be considered a good candidate for nutritional interventions counteracting SARS-CoV-2 infection and related COVID-19 pathogenesis.
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