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Effectiveness of Honey in treatment diabetic foot ulcer : a systematic review

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EFFECTIVENESS OF HONEY IN TREATMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCER: A
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Muhammad Saleh Nuwa, Galih Noor Alivian, Julvainda Eka Priya Utama, Anita
Fatarona
Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga
Email: musa.nuwa@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Honey has been known for thousand years for its effects on wound healing
process. Honey has antibacterial characteristics, stimulates the release of cytokines, and
stimulates cellular growth, so that it can facilitate wound healing process. Diabetic Foot Ulcer
(DFU) is one type of wounds which is its wound healing process still becomes problem. The
purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of honey in healing
diabetic foot ulcers. Method: The process of searching articles conducted on 7 database to
answer the purpose of this review. There was 7 of 10 articles discuss about wound care with
honey using RCT design. 5 of 10 articles was high quality articles with medium level of
recommendations, 2 articles were medium quality articles with medium level, and 3 articles
used cohort design with a high quality medium level. Result: Several articles have been
reviewed and it is known that honey is a good alternative choice in wound care of DFU.
Conclusion: Meanwhile, to conclude that honey is one of the best alternatives in wound care
requires a lot of randomized clinical study which compares honey with a variety of existing
topical agents.

Keywords: Honey, diabetic foot ulcer, wound care

INTRODUCTION per 1,000 patients with diabetic ulcers


Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is one of (World Health Organization, 2016).
the long-term complications of diabetes Meanwhile, according to the report
mellitus with risk of death by 25%. from RISKESDA (2013), the prevalence of
Approximately 15% of individuals with diabetes which diagnosed by doctors was
diabetes mellitus will suffer from diabetic 2.1%. Those prevalence is higher than in
foot ulcers (Deribe, 2014). Centre for RISKESDA (2007) which is about 1.1%.
Disease Control and Prevention reported There are some provinces which have
that in 2003 about 11.6% of people in higher prevalence than the national average,
United States suffer from DFU, and in the that is Central Sulawesi (3.7%), North
same year in UK found about 7.4% of Sulawesi (3.6%), South Sulawesi (3.4%)
patients suffering from the same disease. and East Nusa Tenggara 3.3%. The
This amount will continue to increase along prevalence of diabetes tends to be higher in
with unhealthy lifestyle of people (Zubair, women than in men and is more common in
2015). Another study mentioned that about urban communities ( DEPKES RI, 2013).
38% of all amputations in United States was Unlike in Western countries, in Indonesia
related to DM disease (Dinker R Pai, 2013). there are only a few studies about the
Data from WHO showed the rate of prevalence and factors associated with
amputations in patient with diabetes usually DFU. The main complications of DM in
10 to 20 times that from non-diabetic Indonesia is neuropathy (13% - 78%), micro
patients. Over the last decade, rate of vascular complications (16% - 53%) and
amputations increased by 1.5 to 3.5 events DFU (7,3% - 24%) (Yusuf et al., 2016).

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8th International Nursing Conference “Education, Practice And Research Development In Nursing”
A patient with DFU tend to or raw materials of honey, C: Topical agents
experience symptoms including pain, other than honey, O: effectiveness in DFU
limited mobility, pruritus, sleep healing, T: duration of wound healing). So
disturbances, leakage and malodor of that, the formulation of this research
exudate in the wound, and there are some questions was “How is the effectiveness of
psychological effects such as emotions, honey in treatment of diabetic foot wound
embarrassment, frustration and self-esteem (Diabetic Foot Ulcer) in patients with DFU?
becomes reduced. (Harding et al., 2016). Furthermore, the database used in
Many studies have been done to prevent this study was CINAHL Ebsco, Sage
further complication of DFU, one of which Journal, Science Direct, Google Scholar,
is good wound care. One of the topical agent and Proquest which is limited to articles in
which is known over the centuries as topical English published from 2000 to 2016.
medication for variety of wounds, including Searches were conducted in September until
the methods of modern wound care is honey November 2016. Keywords to search
(Vandamme, Heyneman, Hoeksema, literature included wound care, diabetic foot
Verbelen, & Monstrey, 2013). ulcers, honey, wound care with honey,
Honey has been known for diabetic wound, and honey in wound care.
thousands of years for its effect on wound Inclusion and exclusion criteria as
healing process (Lindberg, Andersson, determined before literature search started.
Palm, & Fagerström, 2015). Honey has Inclusion criteria were: (a) primary research
multiple effects on the wound. In vitro and articles about wound care using honey in
animal studies showed that honey has patients with DFU (b) full-text articles.
antibacterial characteristics, stimulates the Exclusion criteria were (a) articles which is
release of cytokines, and stimulates cellular not in English (b) articles which discuss
growth, so that it can facilitate wound about wound care besides DFU (c) articles
healing process (Jull, Walker, Parag, which is contain no abstract and (d) articles
Molan, & Rodgers, 2007). There are many which discuss about wound care in animal
studies that have studied about the effects of experiments. Articles were selected by the
honey in treating DFU but not many of researcher in terms of keywords which is
which using systematic review method. correspond to the search of electronic
This systematic review aimed to evaluate databases, and then researcher determine
objectively the effectiveness of honey in whether the inclusion criteria is reached,
wound care (Diabetic Foot Ulcer) in followed by a review of full-text version. A
patients with DFU using existing research total of 1679 articles found, 510 articles of
evidence. which discuss about wound care using
honey. Articles which is appropriate with
METHOD the inclusion criteria and were reviewed as
Article search many as 10 articles. Schematically, it can be
The first step in this scientific article shown in following PRISMA diagram
search was to formulate PICOT Framework (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
(P: patients who suffer from DFU, I: all Reviews and Meta-Analyses):
wound care interventions which use honey

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8th International Nursing Conference “Education, Practice And Research Development In Nursing”
Articles from the database: Articles based on keywords :
CINAHAL Ebsco, SAGE Journal, wound care, diabetic foot ulcer,
Google Scholar, Science Direct, and honey, wound care with honey,
ProQuest 2006-2016 (n = 1679) diabetic wound, and honey in wound

Articles that has been screened: Article based on exclusion criteria:


(n = 510) (n=500)

Article based on inclusion criteria: 10 articles selected


n = (10)
Figure 1. Article Meta-analysis

Quality and level assessment of articles method used and existing designs. There
Researcher conducted critical was high quality (80-100)%, medium
appraisal using tools from The Joanna quality (70-79)% and the low quality
Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools for articles <69%. Furthermore, researcher
use in JBI Systematic Reviews for all conducted the assessment of the quality and
articles that have been selected. All articles strength of recommendation using GRADE,
were assessed with tools which is the system which is used by the BMJ
appropriate with its research design (The (Atkins et al., 2004) (see Table 1). With
Joanna Briggs Institute, 2016). Then, score of 4 (high), 3 (moderate), 2 (low) and
resercher conducted an assessment of the 1 (very low).
quality of each article which depends on the

Table 1. Quality and level assessment of articles.


The Quality and Strength
Author/Country Research Design
of Recommendation
(Imran et al, 2015) Pakistan RCT 87 % & 3
(Agarwal et al, 2015) India RCT 78 % & 3
(Jan, Shah, et al, 2012) RCT 80 % & 3
Pakistan
(Kamaratos et al, 2014) Yunani RCT 87 % & 3
(Siavash, et al, 2015) Iran RCT 80 % & 3
(Manalelsayedez et al, 2012) RCT 83 % & 3
Mesir
(Shukrimi, et al, 2008) RCT 77 % & 3
Malaysia
(Abdelatif, et al, 2008) Mesir Prospective pilot 80 % & 3
study
(Moghazy et al., 2010) Mesir Observational 83 % & 3
study
(Henshaw et al., 2014) Prospective 85 % & 3
Australia feasibility study

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8th International Nursing Conference “Education, Practice And Research Development In Nursing”
RESULT while in control group using povidone
There was 7 of 10 articles discuss iodine about 33% of patients were healed
about wound care with honey using RCT and as about 17% be amputated.
design. 5 of 10 articles was high quality Furthermore, Kamarotos et al (2014) also
articles with medium level of investigated the effects of manuka honey-
recommendations, 2 articles was medium impregnated dressing (MHID) in healing of
quality articles with medium level, and 3 neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers (NDFU)
articles used cohort design with a high with sample size of 32 as intervention group
quality medium level. and the control group. The result is known
Imran et al (2015) investigated that wound healing of the MHID group was
about the effectiveness of honey in DFU 31 ± 4 days and the control group was 43 ±
patients chich is divided in 179 respondents 3 days with p value <0.05. There was no
as honey group and 169 respondents as significant difference in the percentage of
control group using normal saline in the wound healing in both groups (97% for
surgical unit of a hospital from February MHID and 90% for the control group).
2006 to February 2010. It is known that Research by Siavash Shokri et al
wound completely cured by honey in 136 (2015) about the effectiveness of honey (5%
respondents (75.97%) and 97 (57.39%) with Royal Jelly) in healing of DFU compared
normal saline. Wounds which is not with placebo (gel) in 25 patients who
significant heals with honey versus normal suffered from type II Diabetes Mellitus. The
saline was 32 (17.87%) versus 53 (31.36%), average length of wound healing was 23
(p = 0.001). Healing time: 18.00 (6-120) days for placebo group and 33 days for
days with honey and 29.00 (7-120) days groups using Royal Jelly (P = 0.7). The
with normal saline. The conclusion of this number of healed wound was 29 of 32
study was honey is effective topical agent in wounds (90.6%) in placebo group and 30
treatment of DFU. from 32 wounds in group using Royal Jelly
Agarwal et. Al (2015) compared the (93.8%) with p value = 0.6. This study
effects of honey with povidone iodine as an mentioned that 5% topical Royal Jelly
ingredient in the treatment of diabetic foot showed no advantages in using placebo for
ulcers in 36 patients who suffer from type II treatment of DFU.
Diabetes Mellitus with 2nd degree wounds. Manalelsayedez et al (2012)
It is known that the average of healing time investigated the effects of honey
with honey: 14.2 days (6-26) days, while in (Pedyphar® ointment) compared with
povidone iodine group: 15.5 days (9-37) alginate (Fibracol® gel) as a topical
days. Edema, pain and exudate of wounds treatment for Type II Wagner DFU. The
also became reduced in honey group. The result showed that (Pedyphar® ointment)
results of T-test showed that there was no has 12 ± 3 weeks of healing time while
significant difference between those two alginate (Fibracol® gel) has 16 ± 4 weeks
groups P> 0. 05. It can be concluded that of healing time and there was significant
honey is a alternative which more safe for difference statistically with p value = 0.001.
the treatment of DFU compared with The conclusion of this study was Honey
povidone iodine. (Pedyphar® ointment) more effective than
Jan et al, (2012) investigated about alginate (Fibracol gel) for the treatment of
the effectiveness of honey compared with type II Wagner DFU.
povidone iodine in Wagner's Grade I-IV Shukrimi et al (2008) investigated
patients with sample size of 50 patients as the effect of honey compared with povidone
intervention group and 50 others as control iodine as dressings in the treatment of DFU.
group. The result showed that all patients in The study was conducted in 30 patients who
intervention group were completely healed suffered from type II Diabetes Mellitus with
by 36% and about 14% were amputated, Wagner Grade II which is divided into 2

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8th International Nursing Conference “Education, Practice And Research Development In Nursing”
groups: intervention group using honey DFU. Wounds were followed up for up to 6
dressing and control group using povidine weeks. The results showed that the ulcer
iodine. Wounds with povidone iodine area was reduced with average of 41% in
dressing has an averageof healing time by propolis group compared with 16% in
15.4 days (9-36 days). In intervention group control group during first week (p < 0.001).
using honey, the average of healing time by By the third week, ulcer area became 63%
14.4 days (7-26 days). Researcher vs 44% (p < 0.05). By the fourth week, ulcer
concluded that honey could be safe area became 10% vs 2% (p < 0.001) and by
alternative in the treatment of Wagner the seventh week, ulcer area became 19% vs
Grade II in patients with DFU. 12% (p < 0.05). it can be concluded that
The next research was research propolis (honey bee) was a topical treatment
using cohort design. Abdelatif et al (2008) which is effective in treating patients with
investigated the efficacy and safety of DFU.
PEDYPHAR (ointment from honey) in
treating patients with DFU. 60 patients with DISCUSSION
Diabetes Mellitus were divided into 3 Honey has the effect of antibiotics,
groups based on the stage wound: group 1 antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, auto
(stage I and II), group 2 (stage III) and group debridement, stimulation of growth factors
3 (stage IV). The result showed that 96% of and good osmolarity in wound healing
the patients in group 1 and 2 have good (Chapman, 2009). Furthermore, all of the 10
response using PEDYPHAR ointment, and articles which has been reviewed by
wound healing occurs. All patients in group researcher contain the benefits of honey in
3 healed after surgical excision, the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.
debridement of necrotic tissue, and According to (Kateel, Adhikari, Augustine,
conservative treatment using PEDYPHAR and Ullal, 2016) honey dressing is safer to
ointment. It can be concluded that used in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
PEDYPHAR ointment may be safe for the because honey accelerates wound healing,
treatment of local DFU. has the effect of anti-inflammatory and anti-
Moghazy et al (2010) investigated bacterial, and reduce the number of
the effectiveness of honey as topical amputations. It is also found in the article
treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. The study discussed by (Tian et al., 2014) which said
was conducted on 30 patients who is that the total time of treatment, the average
randomly selected. Criteria of the patients time of cleaning the ulcer, the number of
was patient with DFU all degrees of bacteria, and healing the wound area using
wounds, all ages and exclude DFU patients honey was better.
who were amputated. The results showed Total of 7 articles using RCT design
that 43% (13 patients) wounds completely concluded that wound care with honey was
healed for 1-2 months, partially healed in 13 more effective in treating DFU although
patients (43.3%), patients who experienced there was some articles that showed no
amputation as much as 2 patients (6.7%), significant effects. But honey showed its
and patients who expeienced skin graft as effect of healing faster than the others. The
much as 2 patients (6.7%). Researcher last three observational studies was very
mentioned that honey was an effective and strong research with medium level
efficient topical alternative for DFU. recommendations. Those studies concluded
Henshaw et al (2014) invetigated the that honey is more effective in wound care
effectiveness of propolis (honey bee) on of DFU for all degrees of wounds, have
patients with DFU. As many as 24 patients anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial
with Diabetes Mellitus type I and II, all the characteristic, accelerate granulation,
degrees of wounds were getting treatment autolysis, and cost effective (Moghazy et
compared with 84 control patients with al., 2010). This is consistent with research

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8th International Nursing Conference “Education, Practice And Research Development In Nursing”
by (Tsang et al., 2015) which mentioned 8(1), 51–56.
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