Chapter 5: Bioactive compounds from kefir

M. DOLORES PENDÓN; ANA A. BENGOA; IRAPORDA, CAROLINA; GRACIELA GARROTE

Kefir: properties, functionality and health benefits

Elseiver Science

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2025;

Kefir contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds that can act independently or together to produce health benefits associated with the consumption of this traditional fermented product. The bacteria and yeasts responsible for obtaining kefir, as well as the interactions established between them and the host´s microbiota, determine the wide variety of bioactive compounds present in kefir, including organic acids, bioactive peptides, exopolysaccharides, bacteriocins, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), among others. In this chapter, a comprehensive review of bioactive molecules of kefir reported so far was achieved along with their possible therapeutic applications, contributing to clarify their role on the health promoting properties attributed to this functional fermented beverage.