Camel Milk as a Functional Nutritional Intervention Modulates Inflammatory and Physiological Responses in Endotoxin-Challenged Rats

: Camel milk is gaining attention as a functional food due to its unique nutritional composition and bioactive compounds with potential immunomodulatory properties. This study evaluated the effects of preemptive camel milk consumption on inflammatory, hormonal, and physiological responses in an endotoxin-challenged rat model. Adult male Wistar rats received tap water, cow milk, or camel milk for 22 days before challenge with lipopolysaccharide combined with D-galactosamine. Survival rate, core body temperature, locomotor activity, heart rate, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cortisol were assessed. Camel milk improved survival after endotoxin challenge, reducing mortality to 18% compared with 48% in water-treated rats and 41% in cow milk-treated rats. This protective effect was accompanied by lower circulating IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels, indicating attenuation of systemic inflammation. Camel milk also enhanced physiological resilience, as shown by faster recovery from LPS-induced hypothermia, more stable heart rate responses, and lower serum cortisol levels compared with control groups. These findings suggest that preemptive camel milk intake may provide functional nutritional benefits by modulating inflammatory and stress-related responses during acute immune challenge. Further studies are needed to identify the specific bioactive components responsible for these effects.