Sains Malaysiana 50(7)(2021): 1971-1985

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5007-12

Tualang Honey Supplementation Improves Inflammatory and Bone Markers among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial

(Tambahan Madu Tualang Menambah Baik Penanda Radang dan Tulang dalam Kalangan Pesakit Kanser Payudara Pasca-putus Haid: Suatu Ujian Rawak Terkawal)

ZAIDA ZAKARIA¹, WAN ZURAIDA WAN AB HAMID² & MAHANEEM MOHAMED¹*

¹Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

²Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

Received: 14 December 2019/Accepted: 27 November 2020

ABSTRACT

Honey is traditionally used among breast cancer patients in Malaysia with the belief that it can improve the overall health. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effects of Tualang honey supplementation on levels of inflammatory markers, bone markers and oestradiol among postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Seventy-two patients on anastrozole were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (n = 36/group, with or without 20 g/day of Tualang honey for 12 weeks). Levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and carboxy-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) at post-intervention with anastrozole, increased significantly compared to their corresponding levels at pre-intervention. Meanwhile, at post-intervention with anastrozole+honey, procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide level increased significantly, CTX level decreased significantly, with no change in inflammatory markers compared to their pre-intervention levels. In conclusion, Tualang honey supplementation prevented the increased inflammation, reduced bone resorption and increased bone formation without changes in oestradiol level.

Keywords: Breast cancer; honey; inflammatory marker; oestradiol; postmenopausal

ABSTRAK

Madu secara tradisinya digunakan dalam kalangan pesakit kanser payudara di Malaysia dengan kepercayaan ia dapat meningkatkan kesihatan secara menyeluruh. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kesan tambahan madu Tualang pada tahap penanda keradangan, penanda tulang dan estradiol dalam kalangan pesakit kanser payudara pasca-putus haid. Tujuh puluh dua pesakit yang dirawat dengan anastrozole telah diambil dan dibahagikan secara rawak kepada dua kumpulan (n = 36/kumpulan, dengan atau tanpa 20 g/hari madu Tualang selama 12 minggu). Tahap interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 β), faktor tumor nekrosis alfa (TNF-α) dan terminal-karboksi paut silang telopeptida kolagen jenis 1 (CTX) pada pasca-intervensi dengan anastrozole telah meningkat dengan ketara berbanding tahap yang sama pada pra-intervensi. Sementara itu, pada pos-intervensi dengan anastrozole+madu, tahap prokolagen amino-terminal propeptida jenis 1 telah meningkat dengan ketara, tahap CTX berkurangan dengan ketara, tanpa perubahan pada penanda radang berbanding pada tahap pra-intervensi. Kesimpulannya, tambahan madu Tualang menghalang keradangan yang meningkat, mengurangkan resorpsi tulang dan meningkatkan pembentukan tulang tanpa perubahan pada tahap estradiol.

Kata kunci: Estradiol; kanser payudara; madu; pasca-putus haid; penanda radang

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*Corresponding author; email: mahaneem@usm.my