The role of algae, fungi, and insect-derived proteins and bioactive peptides in preventive and clinical nutrition
Open accessAbstract
The current global trend in the nutrition, epidemiologic and demographic transitions collectively alarms the need to pursue a sustainable protein diet that respects ecosystem and biodiversity from alternative sources, such as algae, fungi and edible insects. Then, changing the nutrition reality is extremely important to impede the global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition and climate change. This review aims to synthesize the published literature on the potential roles of alternative proteins and their derived bioactive peptides in preventive and clinical nutrition, identify research gaps and inform future research areas. Google Scholar and PubMed databases from their inception up to 30 June 2024 were searched using keywords to access pertinent articles published in English language for the review. Overall, proteins derived from algae, fungi, and edible insects are high-quality proteins as animal sources and demonstrate significant potential as a sustainable source of bioactive peptides, which are metabolically potent and have negligible adverse effects. They show promise to prevent and treat diseases associated with oxidative stress, obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease (especially hypertension), and neurodegenerative diseases. Given the abundance of algae, fungi and insect peptides performed in vitro or in vivo animals, further clinical studies are needed to fully establish their safety, efficacy and practical application in preventive and clinical nutrition. Additionally, social and behavioral change communication strategies would be important to increase health awareness of nutritional benefits and promote consumer acceptance of alternative protein sources.
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Advancements in bioinformatics and silico methods, such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking, facilitate identification and design of specific peptides tailored to individual nutritional needs.
“Advancements in bioinformatics and silico methods, such as quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking, facilitate the identification and design of specific peptides tailored to individual nutritional needs [257,259].”
From Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [259]
Table 1 (Methods; page unavailable) reports studies using in silico analysis and molecular docking to assess or identify bioactive peptides, supporting that part of the claim. The passages do not describe QSAR or the design of peptides tailored to individual nutritional needs. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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References 167 · Cited by 16
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- [37]Bourgougnon N Burlot A-S Jacquin A-G. (2021). Algae for global sustainability? Advances in botanical research. Elsevier. p. 145– 212.
- [113]Finnigan T Mach K Edlin A. (2024). Mycoprotein: a healthy new protein with a low environmental impact. Sustainable protein sources: Elsevier. p. 539– 66.
- Authors
- Yimam, M. A., Andreini, M., Carnevale, S., & Muscaritoli, M.
- Affiliations
- Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia (IT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- Ospedale di Belcolle (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Yimam, Mohammed Ahmed
- Muscaritoli, Maurizio
- Venue
- Frontiers in Nutrition
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2024-10-10
- Volume
- 11
- Pages
- 1461621-1461621
- ISSN
- 2296-861X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11499197
- OpenAlex
- W4403313186
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 167
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 7
- FWCI
- 0.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Utilization and Effects
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food and Agricultural Sciences
- Keywords
- algae proteins, fungal proteins, bioactive peptides, alternative protein sources, preventive nutrition, clinical nutrition, obesity, oxidative stress, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, consumer acceptance
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