Camel Milk: Immune Benefits
Camel milk has an amazing immune profile.
The immunoglobulins (Igs) and protective proteins in camel milk contribute to camel milk’s incredible infection fighting and eradication capacity. Camel Igs (which exist in the milk) are able to penetrate into tissues and cells that human Igs were unable to. Therefore, they are able to get into the kidney or inside a cell, where they are also able to completely neutralize the enzyme activity of an infectious agent such as a bacteria or virus.
Camel Immunoglobulins
Camel milk also contains immunoglobulins (Igs) that are special in camels, including unique subclasses IgG2 and IgG3. The Igs are the same structure as human immunoglobulins but only one-tenth the size. Being so small, they can penetrate into tissues and organs to fight infection and aid repair, where human antibodies cannot.
Camel antibodies have superior antibacterial and antiviral properties. As stated in Dr. Reuven Yagil’s autoimmune paper, “conventional antibodies rarely show a complete neutralizing activity against enzyme antigens, but camel IgG has a full neutralizing activity against tetanus toxin as it enters the enzymes structure.” (9). Viruses can also be neutralized by knocking out their enzyme activity, and studies show the camel antibody is an effective inhibitor against hepatitis C enzyme system (10).
In a study on camel milk for autism, the author compares camel milk to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy that acts as a natural immunoglobulin therapy, whose effects continue after the therapy is stopped, because of the immune rehabilitating action.
Camel Immune Protective Proteins
Camel milk contains the following immune proteins (often in higher qualities than other milk):
Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein, PGRP is very high in camel milk. It stimulates the host’s immune response and has antimicrobial activity. It even appears to have an effect on breast cancer in studies.
Lactoferrin is also in higher concentrations in camel milk, more than cows and goats. Lactoferrin prevents microbial overgrowth and invading pathogens. Lactoperoxidase, has bactericidal activity on gram-negative bacterial like Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and, Pseudomonas, and has antitumor activity.
Lysozyme is an enzyme that is part of the innate immune system that targets gram-positive bacteria. N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase (NAGase) found in similar quantities in human milk has antibacterial activity.
Autoimmunity
One theory about autoimmune disease is that the body attacks itself because it’s trying (in vain) to get at the bacteria buried in the intestinal tissue. Camel milk’s antibacterial activities and the special immune response allow for their penetration into the intestinal tissues when the “quiet” bacteria turn pathogenic. Because the antibodies are able to get into the affected tissue to attack the infectious agent (for example the saprophyte bacteria found in Crohn’s disease), camel milk can help someone heal in ways not seen through any other intervention – dietary or otherwise.
Camel Milk and Autism (and Beyond)
Dr. Yagil says that “camel milk does not contain the two caseins that lead to the autism symptoms when drinking cow milk. Therefore camel milk can safely be drunk by autistic children.” The results published in a paper on camel milk for autism were very positive, especially for younger children that “showed an apparent complete recovery from autism after strict removal of cow’s milk”. (2) Regarding the results seen with autism, Dr. Yagil explains, “it is NOT only a case of repressing the clinical signs but a rehabilitation of the immune system. Therefore the kids completely recover. “
Since camel milk is nourishing and easy to digest, it does not trigger allergenic or opiate responses, and helps heal the gut and infections, protecting and enhancing the immune system.
Considering the vast qualities of camel milk, there’s seems no limit to the range of maladies that it many help address. The positive reports from parents are exciting – camel milk holds great promise, and future study and clinical experience will be valuable. From parents to professionals like Dr. Yagil, I am intrigued and enthused about the value and healing properties of camel milk for people with a wide variety health conditions.
http://nourishinghope.com/2011/11/camel-milk-healing-or-hype/