Effect of fermented camel milk on glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory biomarkers of adolescents with metabolic syndrome: A double-blind, randomized, crossover trial

BACKGROUND: This study, for the first time, aimed to assess the effects of fermented camel milk (FCM) on glycemic and inflammatory parameters related to metabolic syndrome (MetS), an aggregation of cardiometabolic risk factors, in adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized crossover trial, overweight/obese adolescents (fulfilling MetS criteria, aged 11–18 years) were randomly assigned to receive FCM 250 cc per day for an 8-week period, a 4-week washout, and then diluted cow's yogurt (DCY) 250 cc/day for another 8-week period, or the reverse sequence. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin, insulin resistance by three equations, incretin hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) as well as inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured before and after each of the four periods. A 3-day food record and physical activity questionnaire were completed before each period. Statistical analyses were done using Minitab and SPSS software considering the significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty-four participants with a mean (standard deviation) age of 13.77 (1.87) years (range: 10.45–16.25 years) (58% girls) completed the study. It resulted in nonsignificant mean reduction in IL6 (−18.28 pg/mL [95% confidence interval [CI]: −47.48; 10.90]; P = 0.20) and nonsignificant increase in glucose metabolizing hormones such as GIP (683.10 pg/mL [95% CI: −457.84; 1824.0]; P = 0.22) and GLP1 (6.98 pg/mL [95% CI: −66.61; 80.57]; P = 0.84) by FCM consumption in comparison to DCY. Nonsignificant decrease was observed in TNF-α in the first periods of the study. The changes of FBS, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance indices were not statistically significant as well. CONCLUSION: According to preliminary positive influences of FCM on inflammatory markers, and findings related to glucose metabolism, we suggest conducting further studies on its clinical impacts.