Peptides and proteins

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases are among the top causes of death worldwide. In the following decades, the number of people affected by non-communicable diseases will increase due to aging, and so the demand for medicines. Many of the treatments available to alleviate these diseases have adverse side effects, whereas others are costly, so there is an urgent need for alternatives. Currently, there is an increasing pharmacological interest for peptides and proteins as therapeutic agents because of advantages such as biocompatibility, high potency, high selectivity, and low risk of drug interactions. This chapter reviews updated scientific reports about food-derived bioactive peptides and proteins, about their potential preventive or alleviating role on the deadliest non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular disease, cancer disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, as well as oral cavity diseases as a predisposing factor to the development of other essential illnesses, are addressed. The objective is to provide useful information to readers involved or interested in the fields of pharmacology and food technology, with the hope that it can serve as an introductory guide to recognize the immense potential of peptides and proteins as therapeutic agents.