title: Behavioral Benefits of Camel Milk in Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible therapeutic effects of camel milk on behavioral characteristics as an interventional strategy in autistic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Autism Research and Treatment Center, Al-Amodi Autism Research Chair, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 2012 to May 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in behavioral characteristics in 65 (boys=60, girls=5) children with autism (aged from 2 to 12 years) were assessed. The behavioral symptoms were evaluated by Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) before and after the 2 weeks of camel milk therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were detected on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by CARS, SRS and ATEC scales, following 2 weeks of camel milk consumption, but not in the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates that camel milk could be very promising therapeutic intervention in ASD. Further wide scale studies are strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Laila Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Al-Ayadhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dost Muhammad
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Halepoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Dress
authors.affiliation: Department of Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yasmine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mitwali
authors.affiliation: Department of Autism Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zainah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002162:Camelus; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D016896:Treatment Outcome