title: Daily honey consumption does not change CYP3A activity in humans.
abstract: Several studies investigating the interaction of honey and drug-metabolizing enzymes showed controversial results, with some suggesting that honey induces CYP3A-mediated metabolism in mammals and humans. This clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of repeated honey administration on human CYP3A enzyme activity using midazolam as a marker substance. In a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group study, 20 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either honey (2 × 20 g/d) or artificial honey (2 × 20 g/d) over a period of 10 days. To determine intestinal and hepatic CYP3A activity, oral (4 mg) and intravenous (2 mg) midazolam was administered in a semi-simultaneous way before honey administration, after the last honey administration, and 1 and 6 days thereafter. At baseline after oral midazolam, the partial metabolic clearance was similar in both groups (honey: 917.8 ± 234.6 mL/min vs artificial honey: 973.5 ± 373.8 mL/min). Ten days of honey administration did not change partial metabolic clearance (honey: 1016 ± 268 mL/min vs artificial honey: 1043 ± 450 mL/min), which was also true 1 and 6 days later. Neither honey nor artificial honey in amounts usually consumed affected the intestinal and hepatic CYP3A activity in healthy volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Leonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fetzner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burhenne
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Völker
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mikus
authors.forename: Walter Emil
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Haefeli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D001711:Biotransformation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006207:Half-Life; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007422:Intestines / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; C040081:1-hydroxymethylmidazolam; C104464:CYP3A protein, human; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D008874:Midazolam