A Review of Potential Beneficial Effects of Honey on Bone Health

Abstract EN

Bone remodelling is a complex and tightly regulated process.

Disruption of bone remodelling skewing towards resorption will cause osteoporosis and increase the risk of fragility fracture.

Honey is a natural product containing various bioactive ingredients with health benefits, especially polyphenols.

Therefore, honey may be a novel dietary supplement to prevent osteoporosis.

This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the effects of honey on bone health.

The evidence reported so far indicates a skeletal-beneficial effect of honey in animal models of osteoporosis.

However, the number of studies on humans is limited.

Honey can protect the bone via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, primarily through its polyphenol content that acts upon several signalling pathways, leading to bone anabolic and antiresorptive effects.

In conclusion, honey is a potential functional food for bone health, but the dose and the bioactive contents of honey need to be verified prior to its application in humans.