Journal of Dairy Science and Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (4): 70-59.DOI: 10.7506/rykxyjs1671-5187-20250320-020

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Research Progress on the Modulation of Lipid Metabolism by Bovine Milk Phospholipids

ZHOU Lihong, ZHANG Tong, HUANG Jinlian   

  1. (School of Public Health and Management, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, China)
  • Online:2025-07-01 Published:2025-08-11

牛乳磷脂调节脂质代谢研究进展

周立红,张彤,黄金连   

  1. (广西中医药大学公共卫生与管理学院,广西 南宁 530200)
  • 基金资助:
    广西中医药大学校级重点项目(2021ZD004)

Abstract: Milk phospholipids have become a research hotspot due to their unique biological activity, especially significant potential in regulating liver lipid metabolism, body fat distribution, and intestinal microbiota balance. This article provides a systematic review of their classification, composition, structural characteristics and regulatory mechanisms on lipid metabolism, highlighting their potential application value. Milk phospholipids are mainly derived from milk fat globules and nanovesicles, the main components being glycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids. Their contents and composition are both influenced by cow breeds, lactation stages, and processing methods. They are amphiphilic, can form a stable emulsion system, and have multiple beneficial functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and promoting neural development. Cow’s milk phospholipids regulate liver lipid metabolism through the following pathways: 1) inhibiting key enzymes involved in lipid synthesis (such as acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase), 2) activating lipid degradation pathways (such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α-mediated β-oxidation), 3) regulating lipid transport related genes (such as SR-BI), and 4) indirectly regulating the release of free fatty acids through the aggregation and digestion characteristics of fat globules. Bovine milk phospholipids regulate body fat in both a dose- and model-dependent manner. Supplementation with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) during childhood can prevent adult body fat accumulation. In the context of a high-fat diet, MFGM supplementation in adults may increase visceral fat content, but enhance energy expenditure and alleviate obesity by promoting the browning of white adipose. The interaction of MFGM with the gut microbiota is one of its important mechanisms, which improves intestinal barrier function, reduces the risk of endotoxemia, and indirectly regulates metabolic inflammation and lipid homeostasis by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Bacteroidetes and inhibiting Gram-negative bacteria. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) may play a central role in the bioactivities of bovine milk phospholipids. It activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase protein kinase B signaling pathway by binding to anionic phospholipids, regulating lipid uptake and storage genes. High-fat diet up-regulates SR-BI expression, promoting lipid deposition. In this context, bovine milk phospholipids may exacerbate fat accumulation, reflecting the complexity of their mechanism of action. Although the effect of bovine milk phospholipids is significant in animal models, their clinical translation faces challenges such as lack of standardization of the dose-response relationship and physiological differences between humans and animals. Future research needs to combine multi-omics techniques and clinical trials to explore personalized intervention strategies to develop functional foods based on cow’s milk phospholipids aiming to address the global burden of metabolic diseases such as obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In summary, bovine milk phospholipids regulate lipid metabolism through multiple targets and mechanisms, showing broad application prospects. However, their mechanisms of action and clinical application need further investigation.

Key words: milk phospholipids; milk fat globule membrane; lipid metabolism; metabolic-associated fatty liver disease; obesity

摘要: 牛乳磷脂因其独特生物活性成为研究热点,尤其在调节肝脏脂质代谢、体脂分布和肠道菌群平衡等方面潜力显著。本文系统综述其分类、组成、结构特性及对脂质代谢的调控机制,探讨潜在应用价值。牛乳磷脂主要源于乳脂肪球膜和纳米囊泡,以甘油磷脂和鞘磷脂为主,其含量与组成受奶牛品种、泌乳阶段及加工方式等影响,具两亲性,可形成稳定乳化体系,兼具抗氧化、抗炎及促进神经发育等功能。牛乳磷脂通过以下途径调节肝脏脂质代谢:1)抑制脂质合成关键酶(如乙酰辅酶A羧化酶);2)激活脂质分解通路(如过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体α介导的β氧化);3)调节脂质转运相关基因(如SR-BI);4)通过脂肪球聚集与消化特性间接调控游离脂肪酸释放。在体脂调控方面,牛乳磷脂表现出剂量与模型依赖效应。幼年补充乳脂肪球膜可预防成年体脂积累。高脂膳食背景下,成年期补充可能增加内脏脂肪含量,但通过促进白色脂肪棕色化增强能量消耗,缓解肥胖。肠道菌群互作是其重要作用机制之一,通过增加双歧杆菌、拟杆菌等有益菌丰度,抑制革兰氏阴性菌,改善肠道屏障功能,降低内毒素血症风险,间接调节代谢性炎症与脂质稳态。B类清道夫受体1在牛乳磷脂生物活性发挥过程中可能具有核心地位,其通过结合阴离子磷脂,激活磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶-蛋白激酶B信号通路,调控脂质摄取与储存基因,高脂膳食上调B类清道夫受体1表达,放大促脂沉积效应,牛乳磷脂在此背景下可能加剧脂肪积累,体现其作用机制的复杂性。虽在动物模型中效果显著,但临床转化面临剂量效应缺乏标准化、人类与动物生理差异等挑战,未来研究需结合多组学技术与临床试验,探索个性化干预策略,开发基于牛乳磷脂的功能性食品,应对肥胖、非酒精性脂肪肝等代谢性疾病全球负担。总之,牛乳磷脂通过多靶点和多种机制调控脂质代谢,应用前景广阔,但具体机制与临床应用需进一步深入研究。

关键词: 牛乳磷脂;乳脂肪球膜;脂质代谢;代谢相关脂肪性肝病;肥胖

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