Zahra Fallah - Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Awat Feizi - Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mahin Hashemipour - Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Nasim Namazi - Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Leila Azarbayejani - Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Roya Kelishadi - Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

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.

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