USE OF HONEY AS NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPLEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Preliminary report

USE OF HONEY AS NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC SUPPLEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

P.C.M. PEREIRA

, B. BARRAVIERA , R.C. BURINI , A.M.V.C. SOARES ,M.A. BERTANI

1 Department of Tropical Diseases of the School of Medicine of Botucatu - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil; 2 Department of Internal Medicine of the School of Medicine of Botucatu - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil; 3 Department of Microbiology and Immunology of the Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil; 4 Nutrition Service of the School of Medicine of Botucatu - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil and 5 Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals - CEVAP - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Honey, royal jelly, propolis, materials produced and/or gathered by Apis mellifera honeybees have been used as food and medication for centuries(6,7,8). Although extensively used, honeybee products have become a matter of interest and controversy for years.

Honey, well known as healthy and natural food, has shown therapeutic properties in the treatment of digestive, respiratory, cardiac and rheumatic disorders, among others(4). Several studies have reported honey's immunological, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antipyretic properties besides its importance in terms of energy intake(3,5). Furthermore, honey has proved to possesses wound healing and analgesic actions(1,2).

Honey and propolis are also known to be effective in the treatment of respiratory disorders caused by bacteria and fungi which lead to a deterioration of the patient's nutritional and immunological condition(6,7). Thus, a nutritional supplementation with propolis and honey associated with specific treatment can contribute to the patient's recovery.

KEY WORDS: honey, nutritional supplement, Apis mellifera, paracoccidioidomycosis, tuberculosis.

We have been conducting a preliminary study on the use of honey associated with specific treatment and a balanced high-protein and high-calorie diet with patients admitted to the Tropical Diseases Clinic at the University Hospital, School of Medicine of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, Brazil. These patients diagnosed as having tuberculosis and/or paracoccidiodomycosis with respiratory involvement, have been evaluated for their clinical-nutrutional, hematologic, immunological, biochemical and anthropometric condition. Honey's composition and viscosity had been previously analyzed.

Seven patients with lung involvement have been evaluated to date as follows: 5 individuals with paracoccidiodomycosis and 2 with tuberculosis. All of these patients received 1g of honey per kilogram of weight a day for 20 days.

In regard to the patients' nutritional condition, our preliminary results have shown to be encouraging. During this 20-day period, the individuals have gained 3.3 Kg (p < 0.01), and regained their skinfold and arm circunference. They have also presented a nutritional recovery, as shown by the serological and biochemical tests, specially increased albumin levels.

Although our data are preliminary, the use of honey as a nutritional supplement in the treatment of the above mentioned infectious conditions seems to be very promising. However, we intend to increase the number of patients in the study group as well as to include a control group. Moreover, further studies are needed for a better understanding of the use of honey and its clinical significance.

• 01 AMON PJ. The use of honey in the treatment of infected wounds. Trop. Doct., 1980, 10, 91.
• 02 EFEM SEE. Clinical observations on the wound healing properties of honey. Br. J. Surg., 1988, 75, 679-81.
• 03 EFEM SEE., UDOH KT., IWARAC CL. The antimicrobial spectrum of honey and it's clinical significance. Infection, 1992, 20, 227-9.
• 04 HAFFEJEE IE, MOOSA A. Honey in the treatment of infantile gastroenterits. Br. Med. J., 1985, 290, 1866-7.
• 05 JEDDAR A., KHARSANY A., RAMSAROOP UG., BHAMJEE A., HAFFEJEE IE., MOOSA A. The antibacterial action of honey. An in vitro study. SAMJ, 1985, 67, 257-8.
• 06 PEREIRA PCM., VALÉRIO MARN., FUNARI SRC. Perspectivas da utilização do mel, própolis, geléia real e pólen na área médica. In: BARRAVIERA, B. Ed. Venenos animais: uma visão integrada. Rio de Janeiro: EPUC, 1994: 65-80.
• 07 SERRANO RB., VILLANUEVA MT., MARQUINA AD. La miel. Edulcorante natural por excelencia. Alimentaria, 1994, 253, 29-38.
• 08 ZUMLA A., LULAT A. Honey: a remedy rediscovered. J. R. S. Med., 1989, 82, 384-5.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

P.C.M. PEREIRA, Departamento de Doenças Tropicais e Diagnóstico por Imagem - Faculdade de Medicina, UNESP - CEP 18.618-000 - Botucatu - São Paulo - Brasil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 Jan 1999
• Date of issue
  1995