Bioactive Peptides and Their Potential Use for the Prevention of Diseases Associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Mental Health Disorders: Food for Thought? - Abstract
It has long been established that nutrients can affect cognition, mood and mental health. Nutrients can act on receptors in the peripheral nervous system or through direct inhibition of enzymes important in the regulation of mental health and other age related diseases including diabetes and multiple sclerosis. These enzymes include but are not limited to Acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), b-site APP cleaving enzyme(BACE1), Prolylendopeptidase (PEP) and Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-IV). Bioactive peptides or cryptides are generated from food proteins by hydrolysis with proteolytic enzymes, fermentation with generally recognised as safe (GRAS) bacteria and through food processing. This paper collates current information on food derived peptides with the ability to inhibit enzymes important in the prevention of diseases associated with mental health disorders such as AD. It details potential peptide “hits” against enzyme targets currently examined and describes known, food-derived peptides that hold potential for future development as drugs and/or functional foods. It also discusses the blood brain barrier (BBB) and their potential transport across this barrier