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LF6.3
Lactoferrin – Forschung
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung
24 begutachtete Studien
Was die Evidenz sagt
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung
Die meisten Studien zu Lactoferrin sind mechanistisch oder beobachtend statt RCTs, die einen klinischen Effekt messen — betrachte die Ergebnisse als vorläufig.
Die meiste Evidenz stammt aus hochwertigen Meta-Analysen und randomisierten Studien, veröffentlicht 2009–2026 mit einer typischen Studiengröße von 66 Teilnehmenden.
Basierend auf 24 Studien · 8 Meta-Analysen · 6 RCTs · 725 Teilnehmende insgesamt
Konfidenz
Hohe Konfidenz
Was die Studien gefunden haben
2geholfen· 22 weitere ohne bewertete Effektdaten
Nach Outcome
Safety profile
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung9 Studien
Immune supportVerringerte Häufigkeit und Dauer von Atemwegs- und Magen-Darm-Infektionen · 4–8 Wochen
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung8 Studien
Iron status & anemia
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung3 Studien
Digestive healthVerbesserte Integrität der Darmbarriere und verringerte intestinale Permeabilität · 4–12 Wochen
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung3 Studien
Women's healthVerringerte Eisenmangelanämie in der Schwangerschaft mit weniger gastrointestinalen Nebenwirkungen als Eisensulfat · 4–8 Wochen
Überwiegend Mechanismus / Beobachtung3 Studien
InflammationMessbare Reduktion von IL-6 und systemischen Entzündungsmarkern · 4–8 Wochen
Zu wenige bewertete Studien2 Studien
Oral & dental health
Zu wenige bewertete Studien1 Studie
Therapeutic & clinical
Zu wenige bewertete Studien1 Studie
Skin healthVerringerte Anzahl von Akneläsionen und entzündlichen Hautmarkern · 8–12 Wochen
Zu wenige bewertete Studien1 Studie
Glucose & metabolic
Zu wenige bewertete Studien1 Studie
In Zahlen
Aus 17 Studien mit messbaren Effekten gezogen
Wahrscheinlich echte Effekte
100%
über Studien hinweg
Untersuchte Personen
725
typische Studie: 66 Personen
Stärkste Designs
14
8 gepoolt, 6 randomisiert
Zeigte Nutzen
100%
2/2 Studien
Wie lange Studien liefen
3+ Monate
3
Untersuchte Populationen
Pregnant women2
Patients with H. pylori infection2
general population1
Individuals with diabetes1
Aktives Forschungsgebiet
17 Studien in den letzten 5 Jahren · Neueste Meta-Analyse: 2023
200920172026
1Systematische Übersicht2026
At the same time, attention should be given to optimizing their application as nutraceuticals or functional dairy ingredients.
Lesgards JF · Nutrients (2026)
Despite encouraging in vitro and in vivo evidence, clinical validation remains limited, and the antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of WPs still require deeper mechanistic clarification.
Future research should focus on identifying molecular targets, as well as characterizing the pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of WPs and WP peptides across diverse clinical settings.
At the same time, attention should be given to optimizing their application as nutraceuticals or functional dairy ingredients.
By addressing both established and underexplored applications, this review provides a translational framework for clinical development and provides a comprehensive rationale behind leveraging lactoferrin for hair and skin epithelial health.
Kaplan N et al. · International journal of molecular sciences (2026)
We link mechanistic insights with clinical and preclinical evidence and uniquely map molecular functions to dermatologic and trichologic outcomes.
In summary, we propose lactoferrin as not just an anti-inflammatory molecule, but also as a microenvironment stabilizer, and particularly relevant for hair and skin support as an alternative to pharmacological interventions.
By addressing both established and underexplored applications, this review provides a translational framework for clinical development and provides a comprehensive rationale behind leveraging lactoferrin for hair and skin epithelial health.
This narrative review offers updated and comprehensive insights into the available literature on lactoferrin biology, biological properties, and clinical utility.
Rizzi M, Manzoni P, Germano C, Quevedo MF, Sainaghi PP. · Nutrients (2025)
Thanks to these biological properties, lactoferrin has widely been studied as a therapeutic agent in gastroenteric diseases, neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, lung diseases, and COVID-19, showing very heterogeneous results based on the disease considered and the population studied.
Since lactoferrin is one of the main components of neutrophils' secondary granules, it has also been investigated as a potential disease-monitoring biomarker, especially for diseases in which inflammation is a key component.
This narrative review offers updated and comprehensive insights into the available literature on lactoferrin biology, biological properties, and clinical utility.
Therefore, future research should focus on molecular structures, target sites, and dose-response relationships, alongside well-designed clinical trials to validate efficacy and support diabetes prevention and management.
Chen W et al. · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (2026)
In this review, we classified the milk-derived bioactive components by their biochemical nature and listed their hypoglycemic mechanisms.
Among these components, milk-derived peptides (e.g., casein hydrolysates), lactoferrin, microRNA, and mineral elements are considered key contributors to the hypoglycemic properties.
Challenges remain in current research, particularly regarding the dose-dependent effects, population variability, processing impacts, and allergenic risks.
This review aims to summarize these mechanisms and highlight recent advances in lactoferrin-derived peptides and their complexed slow-release systems, providing a comprehensive basis for exploring lactoferrin as a potential therapeutic target in bone diseases.
Wu Y, Zhang C, Lv C. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2025)
Indirectly, lactoferrin influences skeletal muscle, energy metabolism, intestinal microbiota, immune function, and calcium-phosphorus homeostasis, all of which positively affect bone metabolism.
In-depth research into lactoferrin-derived peptides and their complexes for slow-release systems may open new avenues for treating orthopedic diseases.
However, the mechanisms by which lactoferrin regulates bone metabolism remain incompletely understood.
6Serum ferritin levelsBeobachtungsstudien=17 · very small study2024
Although this observational pilot study yields positive effects in patients with hyperferritinemia unrelated to HH treated with bLf, a larger sample size is needed for conclusive results.
Pollio G, Rosa L, Costanzo AM, Paesano R, Tripepi G, Valenti P. · Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire (2024)
Among the three patients treated with 400 mg/day of bLf, two had effects similar to those of patients bLf-treated with 200 mg/day and one experienced a strong reduction of Ftn, CRP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (from -97% to -75%).
The decrease in serum Ftn levels due to bLf treatment was largely independent of gender ( p = 0.78), age ( p = 0.66), baseline symptoms ( p = 0.20), and concomitant acute ( p = 0.34) and chronic ( p = 0.53) infections.
Although this observational pilot study yields positive effects in patients with hyperferritinemia unrelated to HH treated with bLf, a larger sample size is needed for conclusive results.
Oral lactoferrin supplementation is as effective as ferrous sulfate in treating iron-deficiency anemia with a more favorable gastrointestinal side-effect profile.
Zhao X et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Lactoferrin was non-inferior to ferrous sulfate for increasing hemoglobin and serum ferritin
Gastrointestinal adverse effects were significantly lower with lactoferrin than ferrous sulfate
Lactoferrin improved iron status in pregnant women, children, and adults with IDA
12Vulvovaginal candidiasis recurrenceRCTCited 56×n=48 · small study2019
Combination of oral probiotics and lactoferrin significantly reduced recurrence of vulvovaginal candidiasis compared to placebo in a 6-month maintenance protocol.
Russo R et al. · Mycoses (2019)
Recurrence rate of vulvovaginal candidiasis was significantly lower in the probiotic + lactoferrin group vs placebo
Time to first recurrence was significantly prolonged in the active treatment group
Symptom severity scores were lower in women receiving the combination treatment
These results show that under the conditions of the protocol, no increased anti-hLF antibodies or adverse events were identified following ingestion of effera™ as a food ingredient at an intake level up to 3.4 g/d in healthy adults.
Peterson RD et al. · International Journal of Toxicology (2025)
66 healthy adults were randomized to high-dose recombinant human lactoferrin (3.4 g/d), low-dose rhLF (0.34 g/d), or bovine lactoferrin (3.4 g/d) for 28 days
Changes in anti-human-lactoferrin antibodies in the rhLF groups were similar to a no-intervention observational study, indicating no alloimmunization following ingestion
Changes in safety outcomes were similar between groups and within normal ranges
Bovine lactoferrin supplementation did not significantly reduce COVID-19 infection rates in healthcare personnel compared to placebo in this double-blind RCT.
Navarro R et al. · Biometals (2023)
No significant difference in COVID-19 infection incidence between lactoferrin and placebo groups in healthcare workers
Secondary outcomes including symptom severity showed a trend toward improvement with lactoferrin
Lactoferrin was safe and well-tolerated throughout the trial period
As a pre-specified exploratory outcome, microbiome and VFA findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT06012669).
Peterson RD, van der Made J, Donovan SM, Wang M, Dilger RN, Kaplan N, Clark AJ. · Journal of dietary supplements (2026)
VFA analysis revealed that bLF increased absolute concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs); both effera ® treatments produced proportional changes in SCFAs as a percent of total VFA, acetate, and individual BCFAs.
Both effera ® and bLF were associated with decreases in Blautia and Dorea .
In healthy adults, effera ® supplementation promoted a proportional increase in acetate and supported potentially beneficial taxa while maintaining microbial diversity, without disrupting community structure.
17Recurrent urinary tract infections in pregnant womenBeobachtungsstudien=110 · medium study2025
Further multicenter studies on a larger number of patients are needed to improve the generalizability of the results.
Shoukry A, ElKassar Y, Hezagirwa MK, El-Said R. · BMC urology (2025)
Sehr groß Nutzen
← SchlechterKein EffektBesser →
Likely real
These results were statistically significant (P < 0.00001).
Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most prevalent isolated organism, accounting for 27% of the ASB episodes in the lactoferrin group and 51% of the ASB episodes in the control group.
Similarly, E. coli was isolated in 25% of acute cystitis episodes in the Lf group and 45.2% in the control group.