Effect of Raw Camel Milk in Type 1 Diabetic Patients: 1 Year Randomised Study

The efficacy of camel milk consumption as an adjunct to routine diabetic management in maintaining long-term glycaemia control in type I diabetes was assessed during a 52 week randomised study. Throughout the duration of the study, 12 randomly assigned patients underwent routine diabetic management (diet, exercise and parental insulin supplementation) and 12 randomly assigned patients additionally undertook daily consumption of raw camel milk (500ml/day). In both groups, the dose of parenteral insulin administration was adjusted to maintain an euglycaemic state. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) were measured at the initiation of the study and monitored at 3 monthly intervals. Additionally, plasma insulin, C-peptide and anti-insulin antibodies were measured at the beginning and end of the study. In the group receiving camel milk, there was a significant increase in MBI (17 ± 4.4 to 19.7 ± 2.97; p < 0.001) and a significant reduction in HbA1c (7.8 ± 1.38 to 6 ± 0.96; p < 0.001), mean blood glucose (119 ± 19 to 95.42 ± 15.70; p < 0.001) and necessary insulin dose (32 ± 12 to 17.88 ± 12.40; p < 0.005) compared to the values at the initiation of the study. There was no significant change in c-peptide (0.18 ± 0.04 to 0.24 ± 0.07) or antiinsulin antibodies (22.92 ± 5.45 to 21.84 ± 7.34). We have demonstrated that the consumption of camel milk in type I diabetes results in a significant reduction in the dose of insulin required to maintain long-term glycaemic control. Based on our results, camel milk consumption, may therefore, be considered as a useful adjunct to parenteral insulin administration in the management of type 1 diabetes.