Four-Week Consumption of Malaysian Honey Reduces Excess Weight Gain and Improves Obesity-Related Parameters in High Fat Diet Induced Obese Rats

Suhana Samat,Fuzina Nor Hussein,Wan Iryani Wan Ismail,Francis Kanyan Enchang

doi:10.1155/2017/1342150

Abstract

Many studies revealed the potential of honey consumption in controlling obesity. However, no study has been conducted using Malaysian honey. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of two local Malaysian honey types: Gelam and Acacia honey in reducing excess weight gain and other parameters related to obesity. The quality of both honey types was determined through physicochemical analysis and contents of phenolic and flavonoid. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced to become obese using high fat diet (HFD) prior to introduction with/without honey or orlistat for four weeks. Significant reductions in excess weight gain and adiposity index were observed in rats fed with Gelam honey compared to HFD rats. Moreover, levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol, plasma leptin and resistin, liver enzymes, renal function test, and relative organ weight in Gelam and Acacia honey treated groups were reduced significantly when compared to rats fed with HFD only. Similar results were also displayed in rats treated with orlistat, but with hepatotoxicity effects. In conclusion, consumption of honey can be used to control obesity by regulating lipid metabolism and appears to be more effective than orlistat.

Highlights

Honey can be described as one of the functional foods
The moisture content of Gelam and Acacia honey was over 20%
Gelam honey appeared significantly higher in total phenolic content and flavonoid content compared to Acacia honey (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Honey can be described as one of the functional foods. Besides its natural sweet taste, honey has a low glycemic index and other medicinal properties. The effect using the local honey is still unknown and to be investigated in this study. Biochemical and pharmacological activities of honey vary, depending on its location, weather and humidity, nectar source, and handling during harvesting and storage [11]. Two types of Malaysian honey were used to observe its effects on high fat diet-induced Sprague-Dawley male rats. Gelam honey, categorised as a blossom honey, was produced by Apis dorsata, a wild and native honeybee, from nectars of Melaleuca cajuputi trees and harvested from the forest. Acacia honey is honeydew honey produced by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. A. mellifera, known as European honeybee, from sugary fluids produced by Acacia mangium trees and reared by beekeepers in wooden hives [11]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion