Lactoferrin has various beneficial bioactive functions as well as good biocompatibility and safety. Lactoferrin-based nanoparticles have found wide applications for packaging, protecting, and delivering food functional factors. This article reviews the structure of lactoferrin, lactoferrin receptors, and the functions of lactoferrin-based nanoparticles in the delivery of food functional factors, with a focus on the progress made in the past five years in lactoferrin-based nanoparticles for improving the bioavailability, stability, gastrointestinal absorption efficiency and controlled release of food functional factors. Currently, the use of lactoferrin-based nanoparticles significantly enhances the stability and bioavailability of functional factors in foods and increases the effective concentration and duration of these factors in the body. However, there are still numerous limitations and obstacles for lactoferrin-based nanoparticles, highlighting the need for further design and research.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. NAFLD starts with hepatic lipid accumulation, which may cause inflammation and ultimately lead to fibrosis in the liver. Studies have shown that intestinal microorganisms and a variety of bioactive substances produced by them interact with host hepatocytes through the portal vein, resulting in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. The bidirectional communication between the intestinal tract and the liver is called the gut-liver axis. In this paper, the mechanism of the occurrence and development of NAFLD mediated by the gut-liver axis is elaborated from the perspectives of intestinal microbial composition, intestinal barrier function, intestinal microbial components and intestinal microbial metabolites, as well as the role of nutritional intervention in ameliorating NAFLD by targeting the gut-liver axis. This article reviews the existing knowledge on the mechanisms of the complex interaction between intestinal disorders and NAFLD in order to provide nutritional strategies for the prevention and improvement of NAFLD.

The intestinal barrier plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. When the intestinal mucosa is damaged, the tight junctions between intestinal cells are disrupted, and the intestinal flora becomes imbalanced, a variety of diseases can arise. Natural active proteins are pivotal in the repair of the intestinal barrier. Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein abundant in mammalian milk, exhibits a range of biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. Numerous studies have shown that lactoferrin elevates the levels of intestinal tight junction proteins, promotes the growth and development of intestinal cells, down-regulates the expression of inflammatory factors, regulates the immune response and intestinal microbial diversity, and contributes to the maintenance of intestinal barrier homeostasis. In this paper, a review on the alleviation of intestinal barrier dysfunction by lactoferrin is conducted, aiming to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying lactoferrin’s role in alleviating intestinal injury and to provide insights for the development of lactoferrin-based interventions in intestinal diseases.

The intestine serves as an important digestive and immune organ in the animal body, which is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients in foods. The body can affect all physiological processes except digestion by activating the gut-organ axis. A healthy diet provides the body with the nutrients it needs, helping to maintain intestinal microbial balance and thereby promoting intestinal health; conversely, an unhealthy diet may lead to intestinal problems, and intestinal health directly correlates with overall bodily health. Traditional omics techniques are performed on a multicellular basis and often overlook information on cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell omics technology allows for simultaneously detecting and comparing the expression of single-cell genomes, which provides a new perspective on the study of intestinal microbial community and intestinal health. This article reviews the application of single-cell omics in intestinal health, which is expected to provide new insights into understanding the physiological function and mechanism of the gut, and provide a scientific basis for improving human health.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global issue and a severe threat to public health. However, to date, no approved therapeutic drugs have been developed. Dietary interventions with natural products have shown promise in preventing and treating NAFLD. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a phytocompound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and previous research has demonstrated that SFN can ameliorate hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects remain unclear. In this study, we confirmed the protective effects of SFN on excessive lipid accumulation and inflammatory injury in a high-fat, high-fructose diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse model. We found that SFN attenuates the inflammatory injury in a macrophage cell line and the liver of NASH mice, owing to the promotion of M1-type macrophage polarization toward the M2-type and the regulation of inflammatory mediators. Further analysis demonstrated that this SFN-induced macrophage M2-type polarization occurs in a Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4)-dependent manner. In summary, we uncovered a new mechanism of action underlying SFN activity and provide evidence that dietary intervention with SFN might be protective against NASH.