Therapeutics Effects and Health Benefits of the Caucasus Koumiss: A Review

Koumiss (koumyss, kumiss, kumys, kumyz, kimiz or coomy) has been popular in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and the Turkic, Mongolian, and Caucasian peoples of Russia: Altay, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Tatarstan, Tyva, Chuvashia, and Saha (Yakutia). Many countries in numerous Central Asian countries provide Koumiss therapeutic services, which are primarily provided by small and medium-sized accommodation firms that are particularly active in rural areas of those countries.

Koumiss is classified as a functional food due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Many health benefits of koumiss include high probiotic content; antibacterial and antifungal characteristics; regulation of immunity; maintenance of a healthy gastric-intestinal system; regulation of cholesterol and sugar levels; regulation of blood pressure; and induction of some important vitamins. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the health benefits of koumiss.