title: Ingestion of honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: evidence from a randomized placebo-controlled trial in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of honey in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) is controversial. We studied the complementary effect of ingestion of a high dose of honey, in addition to standard medications, on AR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. Subjects were recruited from an otolaryngology clinic in 2 tertiary referral centers in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The study period ranged from April 2010-April 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty AR patients were divided equally into a case group and a control group. All the subjects received a daily dose of 10 mg of loratadine for 4 weeks. The case group ingested 1 g/kg body weight of honey daily in separate doses for the 4-week period. The control group ingested the same dose of honey-flavored corn syrup as placebo. AR symptoms were scored at the start, week 4, and week 8 of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the mean total symptom score of the case and the control groups at the start of the study. At week 4, both groups showed progressive improvement in the symptoms; at week 8, only the case group showed a continuous improvement in the symptom score. Only the group that ingested honey showed a significant improvement in individual AR symptoms. The improvement persisted for a month after the cessation of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Honey ingestion at a high dose improves the overall and individual symptoms of AR, and it could serve as a complementary therapy for AR.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Zamzil Amin Asha'ari, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,, International Islamic University Malaysia,, Jalan Hospital, 25100 Kuantan,, Pahang, Malaysia, T: 00609-5716117, F: 00609-5134062, zamzilamin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zamzil Amin
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Asha'ari
authors.forename: Mohd Zaki
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Wan Shah
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jihan
authors.forename: Che Maraina
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Ishlah
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D017336:Loratadine