Recent Advances in Exploring Casein Peptide Regulation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease from an Intestinal Barrier Perspective: Correlations, Mechanisms, Challenges and Solutions

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic and intermittent symptoms, exerting a profound impact on overall health. Although drug therapy and biological agents are primary treatment approaches for IBD, the side effects can affect human health. Thus, it is an urgent need to explore new approaches to counteract the harm caused by IBD. Owing to their natural origin and excellent biosafety, casein peptides are a promising candidate treatment for IBD. This review systematically outlines the structural basis of the intestinal barrier and elucidates the pivotal role of barrier dysfunction in IBD pathogenesis. We further elaborate on the multi-faceted therapeutic mechanisms of casein peptides in IBD, including intestinal barrier repair, immune homeostasis modulation, inflammatory response suppression, and other such pathways. Moreover, we analyze the key challenges of intestinal-barrier-targeted casein peptide therapies in current research and translational practice, and propose future perspectives for overcoming these limitations, thus providing a reference for potential new preventive and therapeutic approaches to IBD.