Application of Manuka honey in treatment patients with GERD

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease has systematically increase in Western countries over recent years. Health benefits of Manuka honey allows to use it for medical purposes, for example reduction of inflammation of gastrointestinal mucosa. Thus, the aim of research was the application of Manuka honey in treatment patients with Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study was conducted on a group of 30 patients, which consumed Manuka honey or placebo for a period of 4 weeks. The gastroscopy and histology has been made twice, that is before and after experiment. Furthermore, the symptoms reports and nutritional interviews have been collected. The endoscopical examination showed that in Manuka group the improvement was 73.3%. In the sub-groups of esophagitis-A and esophagitis-B the improvement rate was 81.8%, and 50%, respectively. However, in the placebo group, the general improvement rate was much lower. The results have been confirmed in the histopathological examination. Moreover, it is worth noticing, that in sub-group declaring non-medication, the improvement was only for patients consuming Manuka honey. Changes of symptoms in subjective assessment of patients were evaluated after 2 and 4 weeks. The improvement rate in Manuka group was 86.7% and 100%, while in Placebo group it was only 26.7% and 40%, respectively. Manuka honey seems to be effective in GERD, which have been confirmed by subjective feelings of patients and by endoscopic and histopathologic examination. Our research is a pilot study before administration of Manuka honey to larger population. The results are promising and may facilitate the quality of life of patients with GERD.