Meta-analysis of the efficacy of camel milk consumption for improving autism symptoms in children in randomized clinical trials

Bibliographic Details
Title: Meta-analysis of the efficacy of camel milk consumption for improving autism symptoms in children in randomized clinical trials
Authors: Mahmoud Kandeel, Mohamed A. Morsy, Khalid M. Al Khodair, Sameer Alhojaily
Source: Open Veterinary Journal, Vol 14, Iss 9, Pp 2441-2452 (2024)
Publisher Information: Tripoli University, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Zoology
Subject Terms: autism spectrum disorder, camel milk, meta-analysis, therapeutic intervention, childhood autism rating scale, Zoology, QL1-991
More Details: Background: Camel milk has emerged as a potential complementary therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aim: This study aimed to gather evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of camel milk consumption in improving symptoms and associated measures in children with ASD. Methods: Comprehensive searches of multiple databases were conducted up to March 14, 2024, for RCTs that had evaluated whether camel milk consumption by children with ASD was more beneficial than the consumption of a control substance. Quality and bias analyses and meta-anlaysis data were synthesized and analyzed. Results: Of 136 records identified, 5 RCTs (n = 299 children) were selected. The mean difference in scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for the group given camel milk and the control groups was a mean deviation (MD) ‒0.75, 95% CI ‒1.97 to 0.47, p = .23. The mean difference in CARS scores in the subgroup analyses for raw camel milk was MD ‒0.95, 95% CI ‒2.33 to 0.44, p = .18 and boiled camel milk MD ‒0.50, 95% CI ‒1.93 to 0.93, p = .49. A qualitative synthesis found that raw camel milk intake led to improvements in various social behaviors in children with ASD. Camel milk consumption resulted in increased levels of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory biomarkers, with some differences observed between patients given raw camel milk and boiled camel milk. Conclusion: Camel milk shows promise in improving social behaviors and certain biochemical markers in children with ASD, although the current meta-analysis did not document a significant statistical difference in CARS scores for the children studied. Future studies should focus on rigorous RCTs and larger sample sizes to substantiate these preliminary findings. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(9.000): 2441-2452]
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2226-4485
2218-6050
Relation: https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=206445; https://doaj.org/toc/2226-4485; https://doaj.org/toc/2218-6050
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i9.33
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/4e482d94c8db4f8c9e587e19beb4a2bf
Accession Number: edsdoj.4e482d94c8db4f8c9e587e19beb4a2bf
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22264485
22186050
DOI:10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i9.33
Published in:Open Veterinary Journal
Language:English