Untitled

Abstract

The fear of Coronary Heart Disease looms over the medical science. In a considerable number of people, hyperlipidemia remains undiagnosed and it lurks silently over years until its consequences appear. Therefore, to manage hyperlipidemia is a medical challenge to reduce the burden of CHD. Statins, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, have superseded other pharmacological therapies to manage hyperlipidemia. The use of statins is not only costly but also associated with side effects and about one-third of symptomatic patients quit taking statin therapy due to discomfort. Therefore, the quest for a better treatment of hyperlipidemia urges scientists to look for alternatives of statins. Therefore, a randomized controlled experimental study was conducted to gauge the lipid lowering effect of berry honey and to compare it with simvastatin. Honey is suggested to have lipid-lowering effect. It is suggested that darker the color of honey the greater the antioxidant effect. Presence of berry trees (Ziziphus) makes Pakistani honey special due to its darker color. Rats of age 4-5 months were randomly divided into four groups with ten rats in each group (Normal Control Group A, Experimental Control Group B, Honey Group C and Simvastatin Group D). Rats in Groups B, C & D were induced hyperlipidemia by giving 4% cholesterol diet + 1% cholic acid for the initial six weeks. For the next six weeks, Group C was given Honey solution, in a single oral dose of 0.5G/Kg daily and Group D was given Simvastatin solution, in a single oral dose of 10mg/Kg daily. Blood samples were taken at zero, six and twelve weeks through cardiac puncture for serum TC, TGs, LDL and HDL level. Honey decreased TC, TGs and LDL by about 20%, 31% and 21% respectively. Simvastatin decreased TC, TGs and LDL by about 30%, 37% and 38% respectively. Honey raised HDL level by about 15% and Simvastatin by about 43%. Berry honey has a beneficial effect on lipid profile. Honey did not improve lipid profile to the extent as did by Simvastatin but it can be valuable if it is included as part of normal diet in the long run to decrease the incidence of hyperlipidemia and its consequences later in life.