A Narrative Review of the Anti-Hyperglycemic and Satiating Effects of Fish Protein Hydrolysates and Their Bioactive Peptides

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity are increasing globally.
Food supplementation as a preventative option has become an attractive
option in comparison to increased pharmacotherapy dependency.
Hydrolysates of fish processing waste and by-products have become
particularly interesting in a climate of increased food wastage awareness and
are rapidly gaining traction in food research. This review summarizes the
available research so far on the potential effect of these hydrolysates on
diabetes and appetite suppression. Scopus and Web of Science are searched
using eight keywords (fish, hydrolysate, peptides, satiating, insulinotropic,
incretin, anti-obesity, DPP-4 [dipeptidylpeptidase-4/IV]) returning a total of
2549 results. Following exclusion criteria (repeated appearances, non-fish
marine sources [e.g., macroalgae], and irrelevant bioactivities [e.g.,
immunomodulatory, anti-thrombotic]), 44 relevant publications are included
in this review. Stimulation of hormone secretion, regulation of glucose uptake,
anorexigenic potential, identified mechanisms of action, and research
conducted on the most potent bioactive peptides identified within these
hydrolysates are all specifically addressed. Results of this review conclude
that despite wide methodological variation between studies, there is
significant potential for the application of fish protein hydrolysates in the
management of bodyweight and hyperglycemia.