Abstract

The effects of feeding honey on normal and alloxan induced diabetes rats treated and untreated were studied. In the experimental design, 25 rats were divided into five groups of five rats each, with Groups I and II serving as the normal and diabetic control, while Groups III, IV and V were the diabetic test groups administered with glucophage 500 mg/kg, glucophage in combination with honey (500 and 10 mg) and only honey (10 mg wet wt) per kilogram body weight respectively. All groups, (I - V) were fed with growers mash and water ad libitum for six weeks. The following parameters were assayed using standard methods; serum blood glucose, lipid profile, urea and creatinine. The differences observed in the serum level of HDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol in the test groups and diabetic control were statistically significantly (p≥0.05) compared to the normal control. The same was the case for low-density lipoprotein  (LDL) serum level in the test groups which was statistically insignificant to the normal control while LDL serum level in diabetic control was significantly (p≥0.05) higher than the normal control. The difference in the LDL and total cholesterol level in the test groups were statistically significant to the diabetic control except cholesterol level of the Test III that was statistically insignificant to the diabetic control. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides in the test groups were statistically insignificant to the diabetic control. The blood glucose level in the combined therapy group (Test II) gave an acceptable range in both the fasting and 2 h postprandial compared to the diabetic and honey control group respectively. In conclusion, honey should be administered along with hypoglycemic agent in diabetic condition for use as alternative sweetener.

Key words: Diabetes, honey, glucophage