The Application of Natural Camel Milk Products to Treat Autism-Spectrum Disorders: Risk Assessment and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Abstract

Camel milk is better tolerated than the milk of other ruminants, potentially expanding its consumer appeal. It also contains essential vitamins, minerals, and immunoglobulins, providing the milk with antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. These properties may reduce oxidative stress in camel milk consumers, ameliorating many conditions, including those of the CNS, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which camel milk administration (boiled or raw) was examined as an ASD treatment intervention. The primary endpoint was participants' total autism scores, determined using the Childhood Autistic Responsiveness Scale (CARS). A comparison of the responsiveness in these ASD intervention groups yielded a mean difference (MD) of 1.99 (0.89, 3.08) in those consuming boiled camel milk, MD = 2.77 (1.92, 3.61) in raw camel milk consumers, and MD = -1.02 (-0.10, 2.13) in cow milk consumers. Heterogeneity was notably low among the examined studies. Treatment of ASD with raw and boiled camel milk resulted in significantly lower CARS scores than the placebo. Our findings support the development of larger, more populated RCTs to establish camel milk's overall potential as a therapeutic intervention for CNS disorders.

Figure 1

The risk of summary biases reported in the RCTs.

Figure 2

Flowchart of the literature search process and results.

Figure 3

Forest plot of the meta-analysis results showing the effects of treatment on ASD patients consuming raw camel milk.

Figure 4

Forest plot of the meta-analysis results showing the effects of treatment on ASD patients consuming boiled/pasteurized camel milk.

Figure 5

Forest plot of the meta-analysis results showing the effects of treatment on ASD patients consuming cow milk (placebo).