Milk-derived Extracellular Vesicles: Tiny Messengers with Big Impacts on Human Health

Beyond its nutritional value, milk serves as a sophisticated signaling medium that promotes postnatal health through bioactive extracellular vesicles (EVs)/exosomes. These membrane-bound particles, present in both human and animal milk, are critically involved in immune modulation and intercellular communication through transferring a diverse array of molecular components, including proteins, antigens, lipids, metabolites, various RNAs, and DNA fragments. Recent studies highlight their therapeutic potential in preventing and managing different conditions. Additionally, EVs show promise as vehicles for targeted drug delivery, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Despite their potential, challenges persist in standardizing isolation methods and conducting large-scale clinical studies. This review explores state-of-the-art research on milk-derived EVs, emphasizing their benefits for human health and future directions for clinical translation.