Open Access

Evaluation of the effects of a honey‑based gel on blood redox biomarkers and the physiological profile of healthy adults: A pilot study

  • Authors:
    • Anastasia Patouna
    • Panagiotis Sevdalis
    • Konstantinos Papanikolaou
    • Maria Kourti
    • Zoi Skaperda
    • Athanasios Z. Jamurtas
    • Demetrios Kouretas
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 21, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2023.1614
  • Article Number: 32
  • Copyright: © Patouna et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Honey is a natural product derived from the insect Apis mellifera. Approximately 200 different compounds are included, making it a complex mixture with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activity. Flavonoids and phenolic acids contained in honey are associated with its antioxidant capacity via mechanisms such as hydrogen donation and metallic ion chelation, although the exact antioxidant mechanism remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to: i) Estimate the antioxidant activity of a natural honey‑based gel, commercially available under the trade name of ‘Bear Strength honey gel’ and to ii) assess the physiological and redox adjustments obtained after its consumption in healthy adult participants. For this purpose, 20 healthy participants (10 men and 10 women) included in their habitual diet 70 g of the honey‑based gel for 14 days in a row. Pre‑ and post‑consumption, physiological [weight, height, body mass index, body fat, waist‑to‑hip ratio, resting heart rate and blood pressure (BP)] and hematological (complete blood count) data were evaluated, along with the levels of five redox biomarkers: Glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), protein carbonyls (PCARBS) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS). The results revealed that the honey‑based gel decreased the diastolic and mean arterial BP, especially in women, without affecting the rest of the physiological and hematological variables. Regarding the changes observed in antioxidant status variables, GSH was increased both in the total and women's group, while TAC was increased in all groups post‑consumption. No changes were detected in the levels of CAT. Regarding oxidative stress, a decrease in the levels of TBARS in the total and women's group, was observed. PCARBS levels were decreased post‑consumption only in the women's group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the potential positive effects of a honey‑based gel on BP and redox status of healthy adults in a sex‑specific manner.
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May-2023
Volume 18 Issue 5

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Spandidos Publications style
Patouna A, Sevdalis P, Papanikolaou K, Kourti M, Skaperda Z, Jamurtas AZ and Kouretas D: Evaluation of the effects of a honey‑based gel on blood redox biomarkers and the physiological profile of healthy adults: A pilot study. Biomed Rep 18: 32, 2023.
APA
Patouna, A., Sevdalis, P., Papanikolaou, K., Kourti, M., Skaperda, Z., Jamurtas, A.Z., & Kouretas, D. (2023). Evaluation of the effects of a honey‑based gel on blood redox biomarkers and the physiological profile of healthy adults: A pilot study. Biomedical Reports, 18, 32. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2023.1614
MLA
Patouna, A., Sevdalis, P., Papanikolaou, K., Kourti, M., Skaperda, Z., Jamurtas, A. Z., Kouretas, D."Evaluation of the effects of a honey‑based gel on blood redox biomarkers and the physiological profile of healthy adults: A pilot study". Biomedical Reports 18.5 (2023): 32.
Chicago
Patouna, A., Sevdalis, P., Papanikolaou, K., Kourti, M., Skaperda, Z., Jamurtas, A. Z., Kouretas, D."Evaluation of the effects of a honey‑based gel on blood redox biomarkers and the physiological profile of healthy adults: A pilot study". Biomedical Reports 18, no. 5 (2023): 32. https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2023.1614