Applications in nutrition: clinical nutrition

Abstract Biologically active peptides are composed of various amino acids in different compositions and arrangements, ranging from dipeptides to complex linear or circular structures, and display a diverse variety of physiological activities. In recent years, biologically active peptides and their effects on clinical nutrition and disease have attracted increasing attention. This chapter focuses on the applications of biologically active peptides in clinical nutrition support and therapy, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, tumors, liver injury, diabetes, and other conditions, and clinical nutritional foods. Biologically active peptides have been identified in a wide variety of organisms and investigated using modern biotechnological techniques. However, much of the research into biologically active peptides is still at the experimental stage and the structure–activity relationships remain ambiguous. With the ongoing development of biotechnology, it is expected that an increasing number of bioactive peptides will find application in clinical medicine for the benefit of human health.