A narrative review of nutritional components, health effects, and disease prevention mechanisms of dairy products

As an integral component of the human diet, dairy products are rich in high-quality protein, lactoferrin, conjugated linoleic acid, calcium, vitamin D, and various other nutrients and bioactive compounds. They exert broad health benefits through core mechanisms involving multiple pathways and targets. This article systematically reviews the nutritional composition of dairy products, provides an in-depth analysis of their fundamental mechanisms-such as gut-immune axis regulation and antioxidant-anti-inflammatory synergy-and comprehensively summarizes their preventive value in metabolic-related diseases, bone health, degenerative diseases, and malignancies. The interplay and synergistic effects among multiple components and mechanisms are discussed, along with future research directions, to offer a scientific basis for the application of dairy products in public health and clinical nutrition.