Lactoferrin: Your Natural Bodyguard


Lactoferrin is a powerful, multifunctional glycoprotein naturally present in our bodies. [1] Certain body fluids including tears, saliva and breast milk contain high levels of Lactoferrin. [2,3] High concentrations of Lactoferrin is found in breast milk right after giving birth (around 5g/L) [4]. The high concentration of Lactoferrin not only aids the defence against bacteria, viruses [5] and fungi [6], but also acts as a bodyguard to help you stay safe and healthy!

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A Journey Inside Your Body

Aspart of the transferrin protein family, Lactoferrin is known for its ability to bind and transport iron, which also explains why Lactoferrin is pinkish red in color. Lactoferrin helps regulate the absorption of iron by binding and transporting iron throughout the body. Lactoferrin is a vital part of the body’s immune response, acting as a natural protector, defender, and supporter altogether!

  • The Protector

    Lactoferrin’s high affinity for free iron can deprive microbes of the free iron necessary for their growth and suppress its reproduction ability to prevent the emergence of ailments within the body. [7]

  • The Defender

    Lactoferrin is known to have direct interaction with bacterial surfaces and help damage the external membranes of certain bacteria [8]. It assists white blood cells in controlling several types of tumors and microbial infections by limiting their spread and subsequent tissue damage [9].

  • The Supporter

    Lactoferrin’s act of binding free iron not only improves the absorption of iron in the gut, but also supports red blood cells with oxygen transportation, reducing fatigue while ensuring adequate supply of energy to meet the needs of everyday tasks. [10]

The 4 “ANTI” Properties: Keeping Ailments At Bay

Lactoferrin is considered as a key component in the body’s first line of defence, as it has the ability to respond immediately to a variety of
physiological and environmental changes[1]. Lactoferrin has been the
focus of thousands of scientific studies[2],, known for its manifold mechanisms that aids different activities within the body.

  • Antibacterial

    The ability of Lactoferrin in inhibiting the growth of a wide range of pathogens has been extensively studied [13]. Due to its ability to take up free iron, Lactoferrin effectively limits bacteria from using this trace element at the infection site, inhibiting bacterial growth as a result.

    Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that Lactoferrin can also directly damage the bacterial cell surface [14][15] through an iron-independent mechanism [16], inducing bacterial cell death.

  • Antiviral

    Lactoferrin triggers strong antiviral activity against a broad range of DNA and RNA viruses that infect humans and animals [18]. It suppresses the entry of viral particles into host cells by directly attaching to the viral particles or blocking their cellular receptors (spike proteins).Lactoferrin effectively prevents infection through preventing the first contact between the virus and the targeted host cell. Within the host cell, Lactoferrin helps inhibit the viral replication, [19] reducing viral loads and slowing down the spreading of viruses.

    A wide range of scientific studies have shown the effects of Lactoferrin towards Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) [20], COVID-19 [21], Herpes [22], Hepatitis C [23][24], Rotavirus (most common causes of diarrhoea) [25], Norovirus 26], and other viral infections.

  • Anti-inflammatory

    As a modulator of the innate immune system [27], Lactoferrin responds to pathogenic and non-pathogenic injuries through its ability to transport iron and direct reactive oxygen intermediates in and around inflammatory sites [28]. Through this iron and antioxidative transmission mechanism, Lactoferrin not only helps to heal inflammation, but also regulate the body’s defence system [29] to lessen tissue damage caused by excessive inflammatory responses [30].

    The anti-inflammatory function has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies of dermal inflammatory as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal inflammation [31].

  • Antifungal

    Various antifungal functions of Lactoferrin have been reported, including a wide spectrum of activity across yeasts and moulds [32]. First discovered in 1971, the antifungal properties of Lactoferrin are attributed to the iron binding and transporting mechanism of Lactoferrin and its peptides [33].

    Later, Lactoferrin has been demonstrated to mediate antifungal activity through the stimulation of the host cell immune mechanism [34], and by altering the permeability of the cell surface to cause damage to the fungal cell wall [35][36].

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  • Gut Health

    Lactoferrin modulates the composition, abundance, balance of probiotics and enhances the growth of certain selected probiotic strains such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli [27].

    Gut health not only covers the health of the entire digestive system, but a study also showed that Lactoferrin regulates metabolic disorders by balancing intestinal flora [28].

  • Immune Support

    Lactoferrin has been considered as a cell-secreted mediator that links innate and adaptive immune responses [2].

    Lactoferrin boosts immune response not only by the 5 “ANTI” functions mentioned above, but also through its ability to stimulate the growth of immune cells, regulate their activation, and guide their movement [30].

  • Skin health

    The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of
    Lactoferrin makes it an appealing addition to skin health products.

    These properties inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria [31], neutralize the overabundant immune response, and promote the healing of skin wounds [32].  

  • Bone Strength

    Lactoferrin has a direct effect on bone tissue regeneration and growth through stimulating the growth and activity of chondrocytes and osteoblasts.

    A study in 2016 discovered that Lactoferrin can reinforce bone healing processes by inducing a mitogenic effect on the osteoblasts close to the wound, and activating two kinases of osteoblast cells [33].

  • Anemia Recovery

    If an individual does not get enough iron in their diet, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells. Iron deficiency is considered as one of the most serious nutritional disorders in the world, being more prevalent in women who experience iron loss during menstruation [34].

    As an iron-binding glycoprotein, Lactoferrin is able to bind iron from food or supplements, improve iron absorption in the gut, as well as support red blood cells with oxygen transportation, effectively reducing fatigue.

  • Cancer

    Studies have shown that Lactoferrin emerges as a promising anticancer agent due to its well-demonstrated anticancer and anti-metastatic activities against a range of human cancer types [35].


    In experimental studies, Lactoferrin has been found to significantly inhibit breast [47], colon[48], oesophagus [49, lung [50] and bladder cancer [51][52].

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