Food-Derived Antihypertensive Peptides: Mechanisms, Multi-Methodological Approaches, Bioavailability, and Functional Food Applications

This systematic review was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA 2020 statement to synthesize evidence published between January 2020 and January 2025 on food-derived antihypertensive peptides, with emphasis on mechanisms of action, molecular stability, bioavailability, and functional food applications. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using combined terms related to bioactive or ACE-inhibitory peptides, stability or bioavailability, and alternative protein sources. Original peer-reviewed studies in English evaluating antihypertensive or ACE-inhibitory peptides from plant, marine, insect, fungal, dairy, or terrestrial animal matrices were considered eligible when they reported experimental evidence on activity, stability, transport, or in vivo efficacy. Three reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. A total of 177 studies were included. Plant and marine matrices accounted for approximately 72% of the evidence base, with a strong focus on low-molecular-weight peptides (