Evaluation of the Effect of Honey on Liver Function Tests in Group of Patients with Hepatitis A.

Abstract

This study was conducted in 4 weeks duration on 50 children and adolescents with acute hepatitis A infection treated with traditional therapy divided into two groups each group included 25 patients. Group A (Intervention group) included 25 patients who received a calculated daily dose of honey 3ml/kg/day for 4 weeks to explore the effect of its intake on clinical outcome and laboratory liver function tests . Group B (Non-Intervention group) included 25 patients who did not receive honey for the 4 weeks of the study to examine whether the change was due to honey ingestion or not. The patients were recruited from the regular attendants of the children in the out-patients Pediatric Clinic of Ain Shams University Hospital. All patients were subjected to: 1. Full history taking including time of illness. 2. Data from each patient's file was accurately recorded as regards there is another chronic diseases.

3. Honey was given in a daily oral dose of 3 ml/kg for 4 weeks according to the protocol of each group. 4. Thorough clinical examination. 5. Follow up procedures were performed at enrollment, 2weeks and 4 weeks of the study including: • clinical assessment to every patient: (vital signs, fever, vomiting, liver tenderness, jaundice, dark urine, light colored stool, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite and splenomegally). • Lab finding: (AST, ALT, GGT, TOTAL BILLRUBIN and DIRECT BILLRUBIN). At week 0, week 2 and week 4 . And we found that:  Our study included 50 patients (24male, 26 female) with acute hepatitis A infection. They were divided into 2 groups, the Intervention group (group 1) and the non intervention group- (group 2). On comparing baseline studied variables between them, there were no statistical significant differences as regard baseline characteristics of patients.