Targeted dairy fortification: leveraging bioactive compounds to enhance nutritional value

Abstract

Dairy products, rich in nutrients, are crucial for human health and disease prevention. Recent trends focus on enhancing their nutritional value by fortifying them with bioactive compounds from plant and animal sources. Scientific evidence suggests these compounds can improve public health by potentially treating and preventing diseases, including cancer. This systematic review discusses advances in dairy product fortification with health-promoting compounds, highlighting their role in correcting nutritional deficiencies and reducing chronic disease risk. Innovative delivery systems are being developed to improve the stability and functionality of these compounds in fortified dairy products. Despite challenges in maintaining the physical, textural, and sensory qualities of dairy products, fortification is a promising public health strategy. The review calls for interdisciplinary research to better understand the bioavailability, effectiveness, and long-term health impacts of bioactive compounds in dairy foods. Such research could inform best practices and policy recommendations. Using dairy products as carriers for bioactive compounds can significantly improve nutritional status and reduce the global burden of chronic diseases, making it a strategic approach to public health nutrition. This review cautiously evaluates current evidence, particularly regarding chronic disease prevention, and emphasizes the need for further research on specific populations, such as children and the elderly.