Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 15, 2026 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists are increasingly investigating a natural protein found in milk that could help combat a wide range of viral diseases. Known as lactoferrin, this multifunctional protein has attracted global attention because of its ability to block viral infections, regulate immune responses, and reduce inflammation. Recent scientific findings suggest that lactoferrin may offer a promising supportive strategy in the fight against many viruses that threaten global health.
Natural milk protein lactoferrin shows remarkable ability to block viruses and strengthen the body’s immune defenses
The research was conducted by scientists from the Laboratorio de Patología Molecular Veterinaria, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico; the Departamento de Biología Celular at the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN) in Mexico City; and the Laboratorio 3, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, Facultad de Estudios Superiores de Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
What Exactly Is Lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring glycoprotein that forms part of the body’s innate immune system. It is present in many bodily fluids, including saliva, tears, and mucus, but it is especially abundant in breast milk, particularly in early milk known as colostrum. This protein plays a vital role in maintaining immune balance, regulating iron levels, and protecting the body from invading microbes.
Human milk contains especially high levels of lactoferrin during early lactation, reaching concentrations of more than five milligrams per milliliter in colostrum. Over time, the levels gradually decline but still remain an important component of breast milk that helps protect infants against infections.
Researchers believe that lactoferrin contributes significantly to the reduced rates of infections observed in breastfed infants, particularly infections affecting the digestive and respiratory systems.
How Lactoferrin Blocks Viruses
What makes lactoferrin particularly interesting to scientists is its ability to interfere with viral infections at multiple stages. Instead of targeting only one step of viral replication, the protein appears capable of blocking several key processes that viruses rely on to infect human cells.
One of the main mechanisms involves the ability of lactoferrin to attach to molecules on the surface of human cells called heparan sulfate proteoglycans. These molecules are commonly used by many viruses as docking points before entering cells. By binding to these receptors, lactoferrin effectively blocks viruses from attaching and penetrating the cell.
In addition to preventing viral attachment, lactoferrin can also bind directly to viral particles themselves. This interaction can neutralize the virus and stop it from initiating infection.
Laboratory studies have s
hown that lactoferrin can inhibit a wide variety of viruses, including influenza viruses, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus, norovirus, and several human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2.
Evidence From Laboratory and Animal Studies
Experiments have demonstrated that lactoferrin can reduce viral infection rates significantly in cell cultures. In some studies involving arboviruses such as Zika and Chikungunya viruses, infection levels dropped by as much as 80 percent when lactoferrin was present.
Research in animal models has also revealed important immune-boosting effects. Oral administration of lactoferrin has been shown to increase the activity of natural killer cells and stimulate the production of immune signaling molecules such as interferons and interleukin-18. These molecules are essential for coordinating the body’s antiviral defenses.
The protein also appears to reduce harmful inflammation during infections, which is particularly important in viral diseases where excessive immune responses can worsen symptoms.
This
Medical News report highlights how the protein’s unique ability to both block viruses and regulate immune responses has sparked interest in its potential medical applications.
What Clinical Trials Are Showing
Several clinical trials have examined the effects of lactoferrin in humans. In studies involving children with viral gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus, daily lactoferrin supplementation significantly reduced the duration and severity of symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Children receiving lactoferrin were also less likely to experience dehydration severe enough to require hospitalization.
Other trials have evaluated lactoferrin for respiratory infections. In a clinical study involving COVID-19 patients treated with liposomal lactoferrin formulations, many participants experienced improvements in symptoms such as fatigue, cough, muscle pain, and headache within the first few days of treatment.
However, not all studies have produced consistent results. Some clinical trials found limited benefits when lactoferrin was administered later during illness, suggesting that the timing of treatment may be crucial for achieving the best results.
Conclusion
The growing body of research suggests that lactoferrin could play a valuable role as a supportive therapy against viral infections. By blocking viral entry into cells, interfering with viral replication, and strengthening immune defenses, this naturally occurring protein demonstrates a unique combination of protective mechanisms. While further large-scale clinical trials are still needed to confirm its full therapeutic potential, current evidence strongly supports continued investigation into lactoferrin as a safe and promising antiviral agent capable of helping the body defend itself against a wide spectrum of viral diseases.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Future Pharmacology.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/6/1/14
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/influenza-or-flu
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