Camel Milk as an Adjuvant Therapy for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: Verification of a Traditional Ethnomedical Practice

Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,Zekry Khalid Zekry,Hussain A. Al-Mehdar,Omar Salama,Siad Ebrahim El-Shaieb,Amany A. El-Basmy,Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monem Al-said,Sabry Mohamed Sharawy 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

There is a traditional belief in the Middle East that regular consumption of camel milk may aid in prevention and control of diabetes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of camel milk as an adjuvant therapy in young type 1 diabetics. This 16-week randomized study enrolled 54 type 1 diabetic patients (average age 20 years) selected from those attending the outpatient diabetes clinic of the Menofia University Hospital, affiliated with Egypt's National Cancer Institute. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 27 patients: one received usual management (diet, exercise, and insulin), whereas the other received 500 mL of camel milk daily in addition to standard management. A control group of 10 healthy subjects was also assessed. The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 16 weeks: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), human C-peptide, lipid profile, serum insulin, anti-insulin antibodies, creatinine clearance, albumin in 24-hour urine, body mass index, and Diabetes Quality of Life score. The following parameters were significantly different between the usual-management group versus the camel milk group after 16 weeks: fasting blood sugar (227.2 ± 17.7 vs. 98.9 ± 16.2 mg/dL), HbA1c (9.59 ± 2.05[%] vs. 7.16 ± 1.84[%]), serum anti-insulin antibodies (26.20 ± 7.69 vs. 20.92 ± 5.45 μU/mL), urinary albumin excretion (25.17 ± 5.43 vs. 14.54 ± 5.62 mg/dL/24 hours), daily insulin dose (48.1 ± 6.95 vs. 23 ± 4.05 units), and body mass index (18.43 ± 3.59 vs. 24.3 ± 2.95 kg/m2). Most notably, C-peptide levels were markedly higher in the camel milk group (0.28 ± 0.6 vs. 2.30 ± 0.51 pmol/mL). These results suggest that, as an adjunct to standard management, daily ingestion of camel milk can aid metabolic control in young type 1 diabetics, at least in part by boosting endogenous insulin secretion.

Camel Milk as an Adjuvant Therapy for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: Verification of a Traditional Ethnomedical Practice

Al-Tahtawy, Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,Zekry, Zekry Khalid,Al-Mehdar, Hussain A.,Salama, Omar,El-Shaieb, Siad Ebrahim,El-Basmy, Amany A.,Al-said, Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monem,Sharawy, Sabry Mohamed The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

There is a traditional belief in the Middle East that regular consumption of camel milk may aid in prevention and control of diabetes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of camel milk as an adjuvant therapy in young type 1 diabetics. This 16-week randomized study enrolled 54 type 1 diabetic patients (average age 20 years) selected from those attending the outpatient diabetes clinic of the Menofia University Hospital, affiliated with Egypt's National Cancer Institute. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 27 patients: one received usual management (diet, exercise, and insulin), whereas the other received 500 mL of camel milk daily in addition to standard management. A control group of 10 healthy subjects was also assessed. The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 16 weeks: hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), human C-peptide, lipid profile, serum insulin, anti-insulin antibodies, creatinine clearance, albumin in 24-hour urine, body mass index, and Diabetes Quality of Life score. The following parameters were significantly different between the usual-management group versus the camel milk group after 16 weeks: fasting blood sugar ($227.2\;{\pm}\;17.7$ vs. $98.9\;{\pm}\;16.2\;mg/dL$), HbA1c ($9.59\;{\pm}\;2.05$[%] vs. $7.16\;{\pm}\;1.84$[%]), serum anti-insulin antibodies ($26.20\;{\pm}\;7.69$ vs. $20.92\;{\pm}\;5.45\;{\mu}U/mL$), urinary albumin excretion ($25.17\;{\pm}\;5.43$ vs. $14.54\;{\pm}\;5.62\;mg/dL$/24 hours), daily insulin dose ($48.1\;{\pm}\;6.95$ vs. $23\;{\pm}\;4.05$ units), and body mass index ($18.43\;{\pm}\;3.59$ vs. $24.3\;{\pm}\;2.95\;kg/m^2$). Most notably, C-peptide levels were markedly higher in the camel milk group ($0.28\;{\pm}\;0.6$ vs. $2.30\;{\pm}\;0.51\;pmol/mL$). These results suggest that, as an adjunct to standard management, daily ingestion of camel milk can aid metabolic control in young type 1 diabetics, at least in part by boosting endogenous insulin secretion.

The Role of Curcuma longa Against Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Al-Tahtawy, Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,El-Bastawesy, Amal Mohamad,Zekry, Zekry Khalid,Al-Mehdar, Hussain A.,Al-said, Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monaam,Aly, Soaad Shaker,Sharawy, Sabry Mohamed,El-Merzabani, Mahmuod The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

The major component, called curcumin, of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) (Family Zingiberaceae) powder is responsible for its biological actions. The present study aimed to prove the protective effect of turmeric extract against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicity as evaluated in rats. Body weight and urine volume of the animal groups under investigation were recorded daily throughout the experimental period. Also, the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities were determined by estimating the changes in serum activities of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK), serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, nitric oxide, albumin, and calcium, and kidney and liver tissue activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the contents of glutathione and malondialdehyde. Hyperlipidemia was also determined, and protein and albumin changes in urine were estimated. Biochemical and histopathological findings demonstrate that turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that are beneficially protective, and it has an ameliorative effect against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity and hepatotoxicity and blocks DOX-induced nephrosis. Similarly, turmeric extract inhibited the DOX-induced increase in plasma cholesterol, LDH, and CK. The present findings conclude that the turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that block the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities induced by DOX, and it also possibly acts as a free radical scavenger.

The Role of Curcuma longa Against Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Ragaa Hosny Mohamad,Amal Mohamad El-Bastawesy,Zekry Khalid Zekry,Hussain A. Al-Mehdar,Mohamad Gamil Abdel Monaam Al-said,Soaad Shaker Aly,Sabry Mohamed Sharawy,Mahmuod M. El-Merzabani 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.2

The major component, called curcumin, of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) (Family Zingiberaceae) powder is responsible for its biological actions. The present study aimed to prove the protective effect of turmeric extract against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicity as evaluated in rats. Body weight and urine volume of the animal groups under investigation were recorded daily throughout the experimental period. Also, the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities were determined by estimating the changes in serum activities of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK), serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, nitric oxide, albumin, and calcium, and kidney and liver tissue activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the contents of glutathione and malondialdehyde. Hyperlipidemia was also determined, and protein and albumin changes in urine were estimated. Biochemical and histopathological findings demonstrate that turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that are beneficially protective, and it has an ameliorative effect against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity and hepatotoxicity and blocks DOX-induced nephrosis. Similarly, turmeric extract inhibited the DOX-induced increase in plasma cholesterol, LDH, and CK. The present findings conclude that the turmeric extract has multiple therapeutic activities that block the cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities induced by DOX, and it also possibly acts as a free radical scavenger.