Invited review: Milk fat globule membrane—A possible panacea for neurodevelopment, infections, cardiometabolic diseases, and frailty

Milk is an evolutionary benefit for humans. For infants, it offers optimal nutrients normal growth, neural development, and protection from harmful microbes. Humans are the only mammals who drink milk throughout their life. Lipids in colostrum originate mostly fat globule membrane (MFGM) droplets extruded mammary gland. The MFGM gained much interest as a potential nutraceutical, due to high phospholipid (PL), ganglioside (GD), protein contents. In this review, we focused on health effects of ingredients dairy food across life span, especially neurodevelopment, cardiometabolic health, frailty older adults. supplements infants children reduced gastrointestinal respiratory tract infections improved neurodevelopment higher content protein, PL, GD MFGM. formulas containing PL brain myelination fastened nerve conduction speed, resulting behavioral developments. Administration MFGM-rich insulin sensitivity decreased inflammatory markers, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides by lowering intestinal absorption cholesterol increasing its fecal excretion. supplements, together with exercise, ambulatory activities, leg muscle mass, fiber velocity There great variations composition lipids proteins products, which make comparisons different studies impossible. addition, investigations individual components required evaluate specific molecular mechanisms. Although currently beginning understand possible current supplementation trials presented review have shown significant clinical benefits human worth further investigation.