Glycemic Effects of Honey
Condition: Pre-diabetes
MeSH terms: Prediabetic State
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Honey has been used as a sweetener for centuries. Recent data indicate that honey consumption
      may have beneficial effects upon glucose intolerance, a health issue currently affecting 57
      million Americans of every age and ethnicity. In order to evaluate the glycemic effect of
      honey, the investigators will carry out a human trial assessing biomarkers of blood glucose
      responses, insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers. Our primary
      objective is to determine the glycemic effects of honey in comparison to sucrose and high
      fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The investigators hypothesize that honey will promote improved
      glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared to both sucrose and high fructose corn
      syrup in normal glycemic and glucose intolerant adults.
    

Detailed description: 
      Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance are associated with the development of the
      metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases, including, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity,
      and type II diabetes. Current National Institutes of Health statistics estimate that 1 in 6
      Americans have insulin resistance (www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics). Insulin
      resistance in humans is associated with glucose intolerance, enhanced oxidative stress,
      inflammation and alterations in lipid profiles. Improvements in glucose tolerance are
      associated with improved insulin sensitivity resulting in improved inflammatory and oxidative
      status. Dietary modification to reduced day-long serum insulin concentration is postulated to
      decrease hepatic cholesterol production through inhibition of HMG CoA reductase, the rate
      limiting enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.

      Maintenance of normal blood glucose is dependent on the body's ability to modulate insulin
      secretion in response to the glucose load consumed. Although diet may be an important factor
      in glucose tolerance, the role of nutritive sweeteners has not been clearly defined. Much
      research has been performed on the effect of dietary sugars on chronic disease risk factors,
      including animal studies, and human studies ranging from epidemiologic to controlled feeding
      trials with most of this work focused on the monosaccharides: fructose and glucose or the
      disaccharide, sucrose.

      Little work has been done on the comparative effects of honey and other nutritive sweeteners
      in relation to glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.
    

Intervention name(s): Honey; High Fructose Corn Syrup 55 (HFCS 55); CHO (sugar)
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): 60.7 grams orally daily times 14 days; 65.7 gram daily orally times 14 days; 50 grams daily orally times 14 days
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Glucose intolerance; Insulin resistance; Insulin; metabolic syndrome; honey; Inflammation; oxidative stress