Effect of Fermented Camel Milk on Obesity Measures and Blood Pressure of Adolescents With Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) predisposes the human body to a variety of chronic diseases.  Objectives: This study, for the first time, aimed to assess the effects of Fermented Camel Milk (FCM), a functional dairy food, on the obesity measures and blood pressure of adolescents with MetS. Methods: This was a crossover, randomized, double-blind trial. We enrolled overweight or obese adolescents, aged ۱۱-۱۸ years, meeting the diagnostic criteria for MetS. We randomly assigned the study participants to receive FCM ۲۵۰ mL per day for ۸ weeks, followed by a ۴-week washout, then, consuming Diluted Cow Yogurt (DCY) ۲۵۰ mL per day for ۸ weeks, or the reverse sequence. General and abdominal obesity measures consisting of weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI z-score, Waist Circumference (WC), Hip Circumference (HC), waist to height ratio and Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP, DBP) were measured before and after each of the ۴ periods. A three-day food record and physical activity questionnaire were completed before each period. Statistical analyses were performed using Minitab and SPSS considering the significance level of ۰.۰۵. Results: Twenty-four participants with the Mean±SD age of ۱۳.۷۷±۱.۸۷ years (age range: ۱۰.۴۵-۱۶.۲۵ years) (۵۸% girls) completed the study. It resulted in nonsignificant mean changes (increase or decrease) in weight of -۰.۶۷ kg (۹۵%CI: -۱.۹۷; ۰.۶۱; P=۰.۲۸), BMI (-۰.۱۰ kg/m۲, ۹۵%CI: -۰.۶۵; ۰.۴۵; P=۰.۷۰), BMI z-score of -۰.۰۶ (۹۵%CI: -۰.۳۳; ۰.۱۹; P=۰.۵۹), WC of -۱.۱۰ cm (۹۵%CI: -۳.۲۲; ۱.۰۱; P=۰.۲۹), and HC of -۰.۱۲ cm (۹۵%CI: -۲.۰۴; ۱.۷۹; P=۰.۸۹) by FCM consumption in comparison to DCY. The study also resulted in non-significant mean reduction in DBP of -۴.۴۵ mm Hg (۹۵%CI: -۱۰.۰۴; ۱.۱۲; P=۰.۱۱).  Conclusions: According to some positive impacts of FCM on obesity measures and blood pressure, we suggest conducting further studies to validate the clinical impacts of fermented camel milk.

Keywords:

Metabolic Syndrome , Fermented milk products , Camelus , Adolescents , Crossover studies , Chronic disease