Lactoferrin, Osteopontin and Lactoferrin–Osteopontin Complex: A Critical Look on Their Role in Perinatal Period and Cardiometabolic Disorders

Milk-derived bioactive proteins have increasingly gained attention and consideration throughout the world due to their high-quality amino acids and multiple health-promoting attributes. Apparently, being at the forefront of functional foods, these bioactive proteins are also suggested as potential alternatives for the management of various complex diseases. In this review, we will focus on lactoferrin (LF) and osteopontin (OPN), two multifunctional dairy proteins, as well as to their naturally occurring bioactive LF-OPN complex. While describing their wide variety of physiological, biochemical, and nutritional functionalities, we will emphasize their specific roles in the perinatal period. Afterwards, we will evaluate their ability to control oxidative stress, inflammation, gut mucosal barrier, and intestinal microbiota in link with cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) (obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) and associated complications (diabetes and atherosclerosis). This review will not only attempt to highlight the mechanisms of action, but it will critically discuss the potential therapeutic applications of the underlined bioactive proteins in CMD.