Bioavailability of Bioactive Peptides

Peptides from various dietary sources have been shown to have clearly positive effects on health by functioning as antihypertensives, antioxidants, anticarcinogens, antimicrobials, and anticariogenics, among others. Implementation of a peptide's potential biological effect depends largely on its ability to remain intact until reaching the target organ. Research in humans has shown that peptides of different sizes can pass through the intestinal epithelium. To exercise their effects, peptides need to preserve their bioactivity during the digestive process, requiring determination of the most appropriate structures or peptide modification by chemical methods (lipidation) or physical methods (microencapsulation).