Casein phosphopeptides : from milk to nutraceutical

Milk and dairy products are known sources of bioavailable calcium for its association with casein, whose proteolysis produces caseinphosphopeptides (CPPs). CPPs are phosphorylated peptides able to bind and solubilise calcium. In human intestinal tumor cells differentiated in vitro toward an enterocityc phenotype, they also induce a calcium uptake. Moreover, in human in vitro osteoblasts, CPPs favour the mineralization of the extracellular matrix. CPPs can differently affect proliferation and apoptosis in differentiated and /or tumor intestinal cells. Due to all these properties, CPPs may be considered as potential nutraceutical/functional food.