Camel Milk and Diabetes

Camel Milk and Diabetes: Exploring the Scientific Research

We're often asked about the research into camel milk, Camel Milk Powder and diabetes. It's a fascinating area of scientific investigation, with researchers around the world exploring the composition of camel milk and its relationship with glucose metabolism and insulin function.

Camel milk has been consumed for centuries in traditional camel-herding communities. Its distinctive composition has attracted scientific interest, particularly in relation to Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

While some studies have reported encouraging findings, researchers continue to investigate the mechanisms involved and whether these observations have practical implications for human health.

Research undertaken in Australia, including studies at the University of Melbourne, has contributed to this growing field of investigation.

What Have the Studies Found?

In 2017, researchers from Iran published a systematic review titled Camel Milk Has Beneficial Effects on Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The review examined research published up to 2015 and included 22 studies: 11 animal studies and 11 human clinical trials.

The researchers reported that 10 of the 11 animal studies found statistically significant changes in at least one diabetes-related measurement.

Several human clinical trials also reported changes in blood glucose, HbA1c (a measure of average blood glucose over approximately three months) and other metabolic markers.

Many of these trials investigated daily consumption of 500 ml of camel milk, with some reporting measurable changes within three months. However, findings varied between studies, and this quantity should not be interpreted as a recommended intake for diabetes management.

In 2022, a further systematic review and meta-analysis examined 14 randomised controlled trials involving 663 participants. The researchers reported statistically significant changes in some diabetes-related measurements, including HbA1c, but not across all measures investigated. The authors also identified substantial variation between studies.

Why Are Researchers Interested in Camel Milk?

Scientists have investigated several naturally occurring components of camel milk, including proteins and peptides, to better understand their structure and biological properties.

These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs).

Researchers have also explored how certain camel milk proteins and peptides interact with biological processes associated with insulin and glucose metabolism.

Although laboratory findings have contributed to scientific understanding, they do not establish that consuming camel milk produces the same effects in humans.

The research remains an interesting and developing field, with further well-designed human clinical trials needed to establish the significance of these findings.

Camel milk is a food, not a treatment for diabetes, and should not replace prescribed medication or professional medical advice.

Some definitions:  

The following table summarises some of the experimental findings of Mirmiran et al with regard to the effectiveness of Camel Milk in animal trials:

Overall, camel milk treatment led to improvements in blood glucose, serum insulin, and lipid profile in diabetic animals.  

Human clinical trials, investigating the effects of Camel Milk on Type 2 diabetes mellitus are summarised: 

*The hamoglobin A1c test tells the average level of blood sugar over the past 2-3 months  

This table summarises the findings of more recent clinical human trials, on the effects of camel milk on Type 1 diabetes mellitus.  

Further Research into Camel Milk and Diabetes

Research into camel milk and diabetes has continued across several countries, with scientists investigating both the outcomes observed in clinical studies and the biological mechanisms that may help explain them.

In 2015, Dr Amal Bakr Shori from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia published a review titled Camel Milk as a Potential Therapy for Controlling Diabetes and Its Complications: A Review of In Vivo Studies.

The review examined existing animal and human research, including studies investigating blood glucose regulation, insulin requirements, oxidative stress and diabetes-related complications. Dr Shori highlighted a number of encouraging findings while recognising the importance of further laboratory and clinical research to better understand the observations.

In January 2021, researchers at United Arab Emirates University published a study in the Journal of Dairy Science titled Molecular Basis of the Anti-Diabetic Properties of Camel Milk Through Profiling of Its Bioactive Peptides on Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and Insulin Receptor Activity.

This laboratory research investigated how camel milk whey proteins and peptides interact with DPP-IV, an enzyme involved in glucose regulation, and human insulin receptors.

The researchers observed biological activity involving these proteins and peptides in laboratory models. Their findings contributed to scientific understanding of potential mechanisms involved in glucose metabolism, although further research is needed to determine their relevance to people consuming camel milk.

Another prominent contributor to this field is Dr R.P. Agrawal, whose research in Rajasthan, India, has included clinical trials examining camel milk consumption alongside conventional treatment for Type 1 diabetes.

Some of these studies reported changes in blood glucose, HbA1c and insulin requirements among participants. However, the trials involved relatively small groups, and larger studies are needed to confirm their findings.

Australian Research from the University of Melbourne

An important Australian contribution came in 2022, when researchers from the University of Melbourne published a study examining the effects of raw and pasteurised camel milk on metabolic responses in pigs fed a high-fat diet.

Pigs are sometimes used in metabolic research because certain aspects of their physiology are comparable to those of humans.

The preliminary study involved 20 pigs and investigated responses to glucose testing. Researchers observed differences in some metabolic measurements between the dietary groups, providing further insight into questions surrounding camel milk and glucose metabolism.

The study did not identify a significant overall effect of diet on insulin concentrations, and the researchers acknowledged that the small number of animals limited the conclusions that could be drawn.

The findings provide a useful foundation for additional research but do not establish that consuming camel milk produces equivalent effects in humans.

Further Human Clinical Research

Researchers at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi, including Dr Nader Lessan and Dr Adam Buckley, have also investigated how camel milk consumption may influence metabolic responses.

Their research compared camel milk with cow's milk, examining glucose, insulin and related responses following a meal.

Findings were presented at scientific conferences in 2018 and 2019. These studies contribute to the broader research picture, although they do not establish clinical benefits for people living with diabetes.

What Does the Research Tell Us?

Taken together, these studies demonstrate why camel milk continues to attract scientific interest.

Researchers have reported changes in certain diabetes-related measurements in some clinical trials, while laboratory and animal studies have explored possible biological mechanisms.

However, study methods, participant numbers and findings vary. Further large-scale, well-controlled human studies are needed to establish the clinical significance of these observations.

Importantly, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish camel milk as a treatment or preventative measure for diabetes. People living with diabetes should continue to follow professional medical advice and prescribed treatment.

Last updated: 4 August 2022