Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.19,No.3,2020. Proceeding of the 17th International Conference. College of
Veterinary Medicine. University of Basrah. Iraq
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CAMEL MILK; AN ADJUNCTIVE SUPERFOOD FOR DIABETES CASES
Tahereh Mohammadabadi
Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran
Corresponding Author: t.mohammadabadi.t@gmail.com
Key words: Camel Milk; Diabetes, Insulin like protein.
ABSTRACT
Defects in insulin secretion by the pancreas and due to the cells may not respond properly
to insulin, hyperglycemia or diabetes will be occurred and cause to the failure in the eyes, heart,
kidneys and liver function. Nowadays, researchers looking for natural adjunct treatments to
control diabetes. Camel milk is having anti-diabetic activity possibly because of insulin like
protein (about 52 units/liter), that covered by fat micelles and can be an effective alternative for
insulin to treat type 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes. It is proved that camel milk is safe and
effective in improving long-term glycemic in the human patients and animal’s models. In one
study, daily consumption of 500 mL raw camel milk for 16 week in type 1 diabetic patients
(average age 20 years) decreased daily insulin dose and blood sugar. Also raw camel milk in
type 1 diabetic cases for 52 week and 3 months caused to significant reduction in HbA1c, mean
blood glucose and 30% reduction in required insulin dose. Type 2 diabetics cases consumed 500
mL pasteurized camel milk for two months, that mean insulin concentration was significantly
increased by the camel milk, but fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin
resistance did not influence. Therefore, according to the studies, raw camel milk in type 1
diabetes patients caused to increase insulin secretion, reduce required insulin and insulin
resistance. Camel milk has immune-modulatory effects on the pancreas β-cells. Camel milk
influences insulin secretion via the proper activity of the pancreatic cells and insulin receptors.
Also this special milk improves diabetes complications such as dysfunction in the kidney and
liver function and diabetic wounds. In general, although according to the clinical trials, the raw
camel milk by 500 mL/day improved risk factors in diabetic patients. But it appears that more
scientific studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of processing’s methods of camel milk
on diabetes cases.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.19,No.3,2020. Proceeding of the 17th International Conference. College of
Veterinary Medicine. University of Basrah. Iraq
12
INTRODUCTION
There are various anti-diabetic drugs to treat diabetes but they have several negative
effects on the patients’ health (1). Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin
injection continuously to maintain blood glucose level, but nowadays, the researchers following
some natural alternative healings for insulin. Camel milk contains insulin like proteins, which
does not form coagulum in the acidic condition of stomach that may be an effective alternative
for insulin (2). It is concluded that the incidence risk of diabetes in people who regularly
consume camel milk, is much lower than those who don’t use camel milk. Camel milk may
prepare about 60% of the insulin in diabetic patients (3). Raw camel milk has immunemodulatory
effects on beta-cells of the pancreas, increase insulin secretion, reduces required
insulin and insulin resistance and improves the glycemic control in type 1 diabetes patients (4,
5). It is detected a high amount of insulin in the camel milk (about 52 U/L) that reduce blood
sugar and required insulin dose about 30–35% in type 1 diabetes patients Camel milk improves
the diabetes complications such as obesity, inflammation, wounds and oxidative stress damages
(3).
The anti-diabetic properties of camel milk.
It is revealed that camel milk contains insulin like protein and amino acids sequence same
with insulin and can be absorbed from the intestine without being destroyed in the stomach (3).
The reason is presence of fat micelles in the camel milk that cover insulin and keep it safe in
acidic environment of stomach, and transfer insulin to circulatory system in the diabetic patients
(6).
Lactoferrin of camel milk has immune- modulatory effects on pancreas beta-cells and reduces
required insulin doses in diabetes 1 and 2 patients (7). Obviously, camel milk effects on
regulating of blood glucose are including; effect on insulin receptor function, signaling and
glucose transport in the insulin-sensitive tissues, effect on the growth and activity of the
pancreatic beta-cells in insulin secretion and negative modulation on the glucagon receptor (8).
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.19,No.3,2020. Proceeding of the 17th International Conference. College of
Veterinary Medicine. University of Basrah. Iraq
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Camel milk effect on the diabetes wounds and kidney and liver failures.
According to the recent studies, camel milk whey proteins or derived peptide improved
wounds healing in diabetic cases. The anti-oxidative activity of camel milk whey proteins
enhances the proliferation of immune cells and accelerates the wound healing process during
diabetes. The camel milk can normalize renal and liver failures in the diabetic patients (9).
Hypoglycemia effects of camel milk improved kidney and liver function in nephropathy;
proteinuria and cardiovascular challenge as major complications in type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus
(10).
Some documented evidences on diabetic’s cases recovered by camel milk.
Daily consumption of 500 mL raw camel milk for 16 week in type 1 diabetic patients
(average age 20 years) decreased daily insulin dose and blood sugar (2). Also raw camel milk in
type 1 diabetic cases for 52 week and 3 months caused to significant reduction in HbA1c, mean
blood glucose and 30% reduction in required insulin dose (11, 12).
Type 2 diabetics cases consumed 500 mL pasteurized camel milk for two months, that
mean insulin concentration was significantly increased by the camel milk, but fasting blood
sugar, lipid profile, blood pressure and insulin resistance did not influence ( 9). (13) reported
using of camel milk compared with cow milk in type 2 diabetic patients for 2 months showed
significant increase in serum insulin concentration, and decreased in blood glucose and the
required insulin dose.
One study on 50 type 1 diabetic patients clearly indicated that camel milk mixed with
insulin was an adjunctive therapy in management of type 1 diabetes and the daily doses of
insulin may be reduced by 66% after 12 week (13). Fermented camel milk significantly reduced
fasting blood sugar, postprandial glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR in type 2 diabetes patients but
hypoglycemic effects on glucose tolerant was not detected (14).
How to use camel milk for diabetic cases.
Raw camel milk consumption for treatment is more common and beneficial and heating may
destroy its therapeutic efficacy (15). But without heating, storage at high temperature with low
hygiene conditions may spoil camel milk (16).
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.19,No.3,2020. Proceeding of the 17th International Conference. College of
Veterinary Medicine. University of Basrah. Iraq
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Pasteurizing in high temperature, boiling, cooling, freezing and freeze drying of camel milk may
be leads to decrease the insulin concentration, and the efficiency of camel milk in control of
blood glucose level and diabetes will be decreased (17). Hence, caring about temperature for
processing of camel milk is very important to save therapeutic properties of camel milk.
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