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

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.

Supplementation of Stingless Bee Honey from Heterotrigona itama Improves Antiobesity Parameters in High‐Fat Diet Induced Obese Rat Model

“…During the 6-week treatment period, the obese rats that were treated with 500 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of SBH showed a significant reduction in body weight and BMI compared to the control obese rats. These findings correlate with those given by Chepulis et al (2009) [18] and Samat et al (2017) [15].…”

“…The possible mechanism contributing to the reduction of body weight gain in subjects treated with honey is the insulin-mimetic effects of hydrogen peroxide that is produced from the honey and increases metabolism rates [18]. Glucose oxidase enzyme might be responsible for hydrogen peroxide production from honey through glucose oxidation [15].…”

“…The study reveals that ALP, AST, and ALT levels were significantly higher in control obese rats than in normal rats. This disparity demonstrates that liver problems mainly come from a HFD consumed over a long period [15]. The significant increase of ALP and AST may be due to the damage and leakage of enzymes through cellular membranes [26].…”

“…After 12 weeks, the animals were denied food for 16 hours to allow for blood collection through cardiac puncture. The retroperitoneal, epididymal, and visceral fats pads were harvested from the rat's and weighed [15].…”

Honey and Its Role in Relieving Multiple Facets of Atherosclerosis

“…The honeys and the orlistat drug which elicited hepatotoxicity effects showed similar effects in significantly reduced levels of plasma glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol, obesity related parameters in rats. The authors suggested Gelam and Acacia honey are more effective than orlistat in obesity control through regulation of lipid metabolism [113]. The finding was supportive to the investigation on the renoprotective effect of Tualang honey on HCD fed rats.…”