Camels Milk

Dear members
I have read that camels milk is very good to all thalassemias. Is this true??

Manal

There may be some truth to that. Camel's milk contains a protein found in breast milk, lactoferrin. Lactoferrin binds iron, preventing it from being deposited in the organs, just as serum ferritin does.

From    http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/eid/vol5no3/weinberg.htm

The natural iron scavenger, lactoferrin, has been shown to remove free iron from synovial fluid aspirated from joints of rheumatoid arthritic patients. Recombinant human lactoferrin, which is indistinguishable from native breast milk lactoferrin with respect to its iron binding properties, is now available  and could become a very useful addition to our array of de-ironing pharmaceutical products.

There are also claims that camel's milk has medical properties. This may also be due to the lactoferrin because it prevents iron from feeding bacterial invaders.

From http://www.new-agri.co.uk/05-1/focuson/focuson5.html

Close analysis of camel milk does show some medicinal potential. The milk protein lactoferrin, which is present in large quantities in camel milk (ten times higher than in cow milk), does have some anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Fermented camel milk is high in lactic bacteria, which have been shown to be effective against pathogens including Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella and Escherichia. And vitamin C content in camel milk is generally double that in cow's milk. In Russia, Kazakhstan and India there are many examples of camel milk - as much as a litre a day - being prescribed to hospital patients to aid recovery from tuberculosis, Crohn's disease and diabetes....Exactly how lactoferrin functions is not entirely clear, but it is known to enhance the immune response, both directly and indirectly (passively,) in reaction to a wide range of immune challenges, and is an essential factor in the immune response in humans.

Can't we isolate this lactoferrin stuff and make pills out of it? I've heard that camel milk is pretty salty and the smell unpalatable!!!

Thanks Andy. It is a really good idea Sajid.
manal

Camels milk contain 3 times more vit C and 10 times more IRON  as compared to cow`s milk. So how can it be good for thals  .

maha

P.S While searching for info on camels milk I came across a site that sells camel milk powder.

Hi Guys
Dear Manal
        regard camel milk i don't mind to drink it all the way from the brest dirctly ,,,,  BUT be carfull if you are going to use it you have to start with a small amount because you are going to have real bad stomach ache and diharia and it's from real experiance don't forget am leaving in a dessert country.....      
                                          khalifa
                                   state of kuwait

Hi Khalifa
I was just imagining you drinking from the beast directly  . I just got some info from locals here regarding camels milk. Some breeds can give you diarhoea while some do not. The medicinal properties vary from breed to breed. Moreover its best taken fresh without boiling, so you might be more prone to bacterial infections if you don`t boil the milk. For the time being I have shelfed the idea of giving Hassan camels milk.

P.S I too live in the same desert

take care
maha

hi guys
         thanks for remembering me about camel milk.
          i used to drink camel milk. and i will re-drink it again from now
          concerning it's taste: i found it very nice. it is not so heavy as cow and buffalo's milk but it is like water especially if it is drunken cold. it will be as cild water.
          concerning drinking it without boiling : i used to  drink it without boiling . but of course i feel that that is unsafe. but inspite of that i drink it. so anyone can tell us more info about (boiling versus not boiling)?
thanks
mohamed

Maha, can you give us the link from the site where you can buy camel milk powder?

Hi Dore
Here`s the link
http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/jschuangwei/product-detailyoeQjJSOEGpW/China-Camel-Milk-Powder-2.html
Infact if you google camel milk powder you will come across a number of sites selling camel milk powder. But I feel you will quit thinking of camels milk once you check the link- 10 times more iron, 3 times more vit C. For the present cows milk is the best for my little boy.

take care
maha

Hi Dore
Here`s the link
http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/jschuangwei/product-detailyoeQjJSOEGpW/China-Camel-Milk-Powder-2.html
Infact if you google camel milk powder you will come across a number of sites selling camel milk powder. But I feel you will quit thinking of camels milk once you check the link- 10 times more iron, 3 times more vit C. For the present cows milk is the best for my little boy.

take care
maha

No, in that case NO camel milk for me too!
I rarely drink milk, only chocolate milk.
I hope your son is doing well.

Take care & un abrazo,

Dore

We need to differentiate between fresh camel's milk and iron fortified powdered camel's milk. Fresh camel's milk is not high in iron.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/q734114w42p1x5q3/

As the whole, 163 milk samples were analyzed for calcium, phosphorus and iron determination. In order to maximize the variance, the samples were done in four different seasons which expressed the feeding change and the physiological stage changes as the calving season was concentrated in few months. The mean values were respectively 1.232 ± 0.292 g/l, 1.003 ± 0.217 g/l and 2.02 ± 1.24 mg/l for calcium, phosphorus and iron. No species, season or region effect was observed on iron content in the milk.

1.24 mg iron per liter is low and safely within range. However, I think what Maha is referring to is the powdered camel's milk which must have iron added to it, making it unsuitable for thals. If you do have access to fresh camel's milk, please don't be hesitant to drink it. Camel's milk is very good for diabetics and has been shown to raise Hb. It has so many good qualities that I do strongly recommend the use of fresh camel's milk.

Dore
Hassan is fine. Forever jumping and running. I have a rabbit for a son.

Andy
Thanks for clearing things up.

maha

guys..

how bout goat's milk?


Joyce.

Joyce,

I don't know about the benefits of goat milk on thalassemia but I have heart that it is very good for brain development and the nervous system.  I am sure there are benefits for thalassemia too.

Sharmin