Is it really good for diabetics to drink camel milk?

Compiled by: Gong Zixin

We know that people with diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. It is estimated that by 2050, more than 1.31 billion people worldwide will have diabetes. Effective diabetes management can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the effect of camel milk intake on blood lipid levels in diabetic patients has been controversial.

Camel milk can reduce the risk of heart disease in diabetic patients and help treat dyslipidemia, a new study says.

Dyslipidemia refers to an imbalance in lipids such as cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). This condition can be caused by diet, smoking, or genetics and can lead to cardiovascular disease with serious complications.

The study, published in BMC Complementary Medicine & Therapeutics, found that regular consumption of camel milk significantly reduced cholesterol levels and cut the risk of heart disease in people with diabetes.

The scientists said the results, which were based on a search of nine databases and hundreds of randomized clinical trials on patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, suggest camel milk could be a useful complementary treatment for the management of dyslipidemia in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Effect of camel milk intake on total cholesterol (TC)d

Effect of camel milk intake on low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

Effect of camel milk intake on triglycerides (TG)

Effect of camel milk intake on high-density lipoprotein (HDL)

“Consumption of fresh camel milk in diabetic patients significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels, while significantly increasing high-density lipoprotein levels. Type 1 patients showed more favorable effects compared to type 2 patients.”

Dr Faris said: "Long-term (>6 months) consumption of camel milk may be a beneficial adjunct therapy alongside prescribed medications to improve lipid profiles and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes, especially type 1."

The study found that diabetic patients who drank camel milk had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein compared to those who did not drink camel milk.

The study also found that participants had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is medically considered the "good" cholesterol. (High levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, while high levels of HDL have the opposite effect.)

The high heterogeneity of the included studies suggests that more randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer intervention durations are needed to improve the robustness of the existing evidence, the researchers said. Moez Al Islam Ezzat Faris, associate professor at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and study co-authors are optimistic about the findings and their implications, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain - which have sizable camel populations and where camel milk remains a staple food for some people.

Dr Faris said regular camel milk consumption could even reduce the risk of diabetes in people with prediabetes.

In their study, scientists confirmed the low saturated fat content and medicinal value of camel milk. They insisted that drinking camel milk is "a better choice for consumers to normalize blood lipids."

Regarding the fact that diabetic patients often inject insulin to regulate insulin levels in the body, Dr. Faris said that drinking camel milk regularly can reduce the amount of insulin patients need.

Compared to people without chronic diseases, people with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. "This work opens up a direction for further research to identify the bioactive substances in camel milk and develop targeted treatments for diabetes," added Dr. Faris.

Data chart and reference source:
https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-023-04257-5