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

Anastasia Patouna; Panagiotis Sevdalis; Konstantinos Papanikolaou; Maria Kourti; Zoi Skaperda; Athanasios Z Jamurtas; Demetrios Kouretas

doi:10.3892/br.2023.1614

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. 2023 Mar 21;18(5):32. doi: 10.3892/br.2023.1614. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Anastasia Patouna¹, Panagiotis Sevdalis², Konstantinos Papanikolaou³, Maria Kourti¹, Zoi Skaperda¹, Athanasios Z Jamurtas³, Demetrios Kouretas¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry-Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece.
² Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece.
³ Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece.

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.

Keywords: antioxidant activity; blood pressure; body composition; functional food; honey; oxidative stress.

Grants and funding

Funding: The present study was funded by a project of the laboratory of Professor D. Kouretas, at the Department of Biochemistry-Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (Project Code: 2017ΕΠ53000002), through the Region of Epirus.