Camel Meat Nutrient Content and Potential Health Benefits

Abstract

Camels are an important source of nutritious meat and meat products for people, and therefore play a major role in the national economies of many countries. In comparison with other red meats, camel meat generally contains less fat and ash, more moisture, and similar protein content. Camel meat products are receiving worldwide interest owing to its unique healthy features and the ability of camels to thrive in climatic regions of the world that may be a challenge to many other meat-producing species. Camel meat products contain many essential nutrients and some components with potential bioactive properties that could be beneficial for human health and wellbeing. Continued improvements in the understanding and optimization of the production processes of camel meat are required for successful industrial implementation and marketing. Advances in ingredient systems may be used to manufacture new meat products from camel meat where higher levels of nutrition are required to enhance consumer health and wellbeing. Camel meat as a functional food is one area that can be exploited.

Nutritional values and health benefits of dromedary camel meat

“…Camel meat products are regarded as good sources of minerals for consumers due to natural feed eaten by camels ( Kadim et al, 2020 ). Minerals include those required as essential elements for growth and health, and those that are toxic, but the latter will not be considered here.…”

“…Red meat is an important source of Zn and camel meat contains about 3.07 to 4.10 mg/100 g fresh weight. Zinc is an essential trace element for human health, with over 100 enzymes being zinc-dependent ( Kadim et al 2020 ). Zn can decrease fat oxidation, reduced cooking loss, increased crude protein content, and increased total antioxidant capacity in meat were observed ( Yang et al, 2016 ).…”

“…According to Al- Abri and Faye (2019) and Bouhaddaoui et al (2019) , hot environments harmfully affect animals causing heat-stress effects on health, but camels have adapted to produce healthy meat even in the hottest and least favorable environmental conditions. Kadim et al (2020) stated that opportunities exist to improve the nutritional and potential health features of camel meat products, natural production, or addition of natural functional substances. The function properties of camel meat products may be increased by healthy adding ingredients ( Pogorzelska-Nowicka et al, 2018 ).…”