Milk Osteopontin: New Horizons in Nutrition and Dietary Supplementation and Its Industrial Potential

Büşra Sevim; Evrim Güneş Altuntaş

Milk Osteopontin: New Horizons in Nutrition and Dietary Supplementation and Its Industrial Potential

Abstract

Milk osteopontin (OPN; lactopontin; LPN) is a milk-derived bioactive protein that has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its critical roles in immune modulation, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, and neurodevelopmental processes, as well as its high phosphorylation and glycosylation patterns. In this review, the structural, biological, and bioactive properties of human osteopontin and its forms derived from bovine and caprine milk, widely used industrially, are compared. In addition, recent developments in industrial-scale approaches and applications for the purification of osteopontin from bovine whey are comprehensively evaluated, together with the latest advances regarding its use, particularly in infant nutrition. The perspectives and potential concerns of regulatory authorities regarding the safety and efficacy of osteopontin supplementation are addressed, and projections for its future industrial utilization are presented. Furthermore, in light of recent research on milk osteopontin, this review not only highlights its importance in infant nutrition but also discusses its potential integration into adult and geriatric nutrition and its possible applications across various health-related fields. Accordingly, potential future market positioning scenarios for osteopontin are evaluated, offering new perspectives on its industrial use. Overall, this review aims to contribute to the literature on the industrial utilization of milk osteopontin and its integration as a functional food ingredient.

Keywords

Osteopontin , Milk protein , Bioactivity , Infant nutrition , Food ingredient

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Dairy Technology

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Büşra Sevim
0000-0001-7751-1405
Türkiye

Evrim Güneş Altuntaş ^*
0000-0003-4897-9388
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

April 9, 2026

Publication Date

April 13, 2026

Submission Date

February 27, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 1 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA84XD67NM

APA

Sevim, B., & Güneş Altuntaş, E. (2026). Milk Osteopontin: New Horizons in Nutrition and Dietary Supplementation and Its Industrial Potential. Food Science Insights, 1(1), 41-48. https://izlik.org/JA84XD67NM