Insulin-mimetic properties and bioactive mechanisms of camel milk proteins : a comparative review with bovine insulin

Sammanfattning

Camel milk has attracted growing scientific interest because of its health benefits, especially in relation to diabetes and blood sugar control. This review focused on the gastric stability of camel milk proteins and the insulin-mimetic activity of its peptides that is generated during digestion in comparison to bovine milk. Camel milk is a nutrition-rich source that naturally contains vitamins, minerals, insulin and insulin-like compounds. It differs structurally from bovine milk with its higher proportion of β-casein, lower amounts of αs1-casein and the near absence of β-lactoglobulin. The results demonstrate that camel milk is digested differently from bovine milk which may preserve the function of its bioactive peptides. Camel milk peptides have shown to inhibit carbohydrate-related enzymes and DPP-IV, as well as stimulating insulin related pathways that are linked to AKT activation and GLUT4 mediated glucose uptake. In vivo studies showed regained metabolic balance after camel milk therapy. However, despite promising in vitro and in vivo studies, the lack of large-scale human studies remains a major limitation.