Honey Against Sore Throat

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the symptomatic efficacy of oral use of different functional honeys in patients complaining of sore throat.

Materials and Methods: In the preclinical phase of the study, a total of 1000 samples of honey were examined, and the honeys were subjected to physicochemical and microbiological analyses. Based on their functional properties, five different groups of honey were determined. These are thyme honey with high antioxidant capacity, Yüksekova with high antimicrobial activity, chestnut honey with high organic acid amount, linden honey with high enzymatic and pine honey with high anti-microbial, antioxidant and phenolic compounds and enzymes. In the clinical phase of the study, patients receiving conventional treatment were randomly assigned to receive either one of five different types of honey or a honey-like food product in addition to their treatment. They were instructed to use 15 grams twice daily for 10 days. Patients were assessed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 10th days for symptoms and complaints such as sore throat, difficulty swallowing, sensation of throat swelling, weakness, and fatigue.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Sore Throat Honey Infections Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pharyngeal Diseases Pharyngitis Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul, 34810, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Adults presenting with sore throat symptoms due to an upper respiratory infection (URI) within the last four days were included in the study. A total of 300 patients over 18 years of age, who were prescribed necessary medication and exhibited signs and symptoms of sore throat, were enrolled.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria included a history of diabetes, pollen or bee allergies, and aversion to honey. Participants were required not to use any additional products outside of those provided by the researchers during the study period. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, who were then randomly assigned to either the study or control group.

Treatment and study plan

Honey

Dietary Supplement

Functional content analyses were performed to identify the specific properties of the different types of honey used.

Other names: Thyme Honey, Southeastern Anatolia, Chestnut honey, Linden honey, Pine honey, sugar syrup

Primary outcomes

Clinical Symptome

Time frame: 10 days

Symptom Evaluation: On days 3, 7, and 10, patients were assessed for throat pain, difficulty swallowing, throat swelling, and fatigue/malaise.

Throat Pain: Assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (0: no pain, 10: very painful).

Difficulty Swallowing: Assessed using a NRS (0: no difficulty, 10: very difficult).

Throat Swelling Sensation: Assessed using a NRS (0: no swelling, 10: severe swelling sensation).

Fatigue/Malaise: Assessed using a NRS (0: no fatigue, 10: severe fatigue).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medipol University

Other

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Registry information

Official study title

Symptomatic Relief of Sore Throat With Functional Honey: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2022
Primary completion: 2022
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Dec 4, 2024
Registry last updated: Dec 4, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed