Abstract
Camel milk is different from other ruminant milk; having low cholesterol; low sugar; high minerals especially zinc; high vitamin C; low protein and large concentrations of insulin. In Saudi Arabia, camel milk is traditionally used for many medical approaches. In the long-term effect of camel milk in type 2 diabetic rats on antihyperglycaemic, antioxidants, antihyperlipidaemic, and membrane bound ATPases was investigated, and its effect was shown in our previous study. The levels of glycoproteins were altered in experimental diabetes mellitus. Diabetes was induced in albino Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic rats exhibited significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of plasma glucose and decreased levels of plasma insulin. Also, significantly (P<0.05) increased levels of glycoproteins (hexose, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid) were observed in serum, liver, and kidney of diabetic rats. Rats were treated with camel milk (250 ml/day) for a period of 45 days. Diabetic rats treated with camel milk showed significantly (P<0.05) decreased levels of glucose and glycoproteins and increased levels of insulin after 45 days. A similar effect was observed in diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (600 mu g/kg body weight). Normal rats treated with camel milk (250 ml/day) did not show any significant (P<0.05) effect on glucose, insulin and glycoproteins. The results of our study showed that camel milk has the potential to reduce glucose and glycoproteins levels and increase insulin levels in STZ-induced experimental diabetes mellitus in rats.