This review aims to highlight some of the key bioactive functionalities that a range of components in milk can potentially make to reduce risks to health at key life stages. Such functionalities cannot be adequately explained by traditional estimates of nutrient supply. The benefits of gangliosides from the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) for neonatal neurodevelopment are examined along with milk proteins for growth stimulation of children via the proteins’ ability to stimulate insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Exosomes in bovine milk and their miRNA are bioavailable, with an animal study indicating that placenta development and embryo survival were both enhanced. Concerning bone health, the unique characteristics of the casein micelle for supplying Ca, P and Mg to the GI tract were considered. The so-called dairy food matrix and the hypotensive effect of some peptides from milk proteins may be compensatory factors for SFA regarding CVD risk. The recent rise in use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for adiposity reduction and improving glycaemic control is noted alongside evidence that milk proteins can stimulate GLP-1 synthesis potentially reducing GLP-1 receptor agonist need in high milk protein consumers. Other functionality included the ability of whey proteins to stimulate synthesis of skeletal muscle protein, crucial for bone protection and glycaemic control and the role of milk/Ca for reducing colorectal cancer risk. Perhaps the most exciting functionality is that of polar phospholipids in the MFGM potentially improving cognition and reducing the risk of dementia in the elderly. Clearly more human studies are needed.

Longer life expectancy and growing income inequality have prompted an increasing interest in understanding the impact of ageing on nutritional requirements in order to optimise intakes, increase the number of years lived in good health, and reduce morbidity and associated health and social care costs. Food insecurity reduces access to nutritious and healthy food. Understanding the evidence-base on the impacts of food insecurity and the maintenance of food security for older people is crucial to informing policy and intervention.

The increase in numbers of older people experiencing food insecurity is a public health emergency, and is associated with under and malnutrition. Food insecurity can be experienced at any stage of the life course, but has been more widely studied with families and children where poverty is a major driver. Food insecurity in later life has been less well explored by academics, but differs from that experienced in earlier years due to additional complexities, as physical and cognitive health amplify the impact of poverty. Additionally, factors which can appear to be relatively small in impact, can act in a cumulative way to push people towards food insecurity. This review will draw on research about older people’s food practices, contexts, and experiences in relation to food insecurity in later life, and offers a model of food insecurity that has the potential to guide focused public health efforts in order to support the older population to be food secure.

Intrinsic capacity, introduced by the World Health Organization, represents a shift in focus from treating disease to maintaining physical and mental capacities individuals as they age. It encompasses five interrelated domains: vitality, sensory, cognition, psychology, and locomotion. Vitality refers to the body’s physiological reserve and is shaped by processes such as energy metabolism, immune function, and neuromuscular integrity. By definition, vitality is closely linked to nutritional status, which plays a central role in maintaining resilience and health in older adults. However, integrating nutritional status into the vitality domain presents several challenges due to inconsistent definitions and varied measurement approaches. This review examines these challenges and explores possibilities for integrating nutritional status in the vitality domain. The absence of standardised nutrition-related indicators limits comparability across studies and constrains the practical application of intrinsic capacity in both research and clinical contexts. To strengthen the role of intrinsic capacity in nutritional monitoring, it is essential to reach consensus on which nutritional indicators to include and how to score them consistently. Addressing these methodological challenges will support the use of intrinsic capacity in identifying early signs of nutritional decline and guiding timely interventions to promote healthy ageing.