Honey Experiment on LeProsy Ulcer (HELP): A

Randomised Control Trial of Raw, Unadulterated

African Honey for Ulcer Healing in Leprosy

By
Dr Sunday Udo
The Leprosy Mission Nigeria
Demsy Audu
Paul A. Tsaku
Israel Oladejo
Sopna Choudhury
Jo Sartori
Onaedo Ilozumba
Samuel I. Watson
Motunrayo Ajisola
Joshua Akinyemi
Akinyinka Amigbodun
Pius Ogbu Sunday
Richard Lilford

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care
Introduction
It is estimated that about 30-50% of people with leprosy would eventually develop ulcers due to nerve damage or
neuropathy.

The current practice is the use of normal saline to dress ulcers.

Honey has been used for centuries in the healing of wounds.

In recent times, there is a resurgence of interest in the use of honey for the treatment of different kinds of wounds as
researchers continue to search for improved, cost-effective, and readily accessible agents of wound healing.

This study compares the healing efficacy of honey with normal saline in the treatment of ulcers in leprosy.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care
Study Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate

the healing properties of raw,
unadulterated African honey in
comparison with normal saline in the
dressing of leprosy ulcers.
21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022
Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care
Methods
The study is a single-
centre, prospective,
single-‘blinded’, The participants in the
parallel group, 1:1 control group receive
individually usual care of twice- The Study duration is
randomised weekly normal saline 24 months
controlled trial. dressings only. (maximum).

The intervention for We aim to enrol

this study is raw, between 90 and 130
unadulterated honey participants over a 12-
obtained from local month recruitment
bee farmers in North- period.
Central Nigeria,
applied twice-weekly.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care
 Patient admitted to hospital with ulcer

Eligibility criteria

Eligible for trial?

Study
NO YES
pathway
Enters trial

Demography, health, ulcer features

Randomisation

5 intervention
& 2 control
Twice a week Twice a week group
dressing change dressing change videotapes of
with saline with raw honey ulcer field
during dressing
change

Ulcer measurement and photographs (x2 a week)

Discharge from hospital

Six months from randomisation

21st International Leprosy Congressof ulcer2022

Clinical feature
(Photographs area(s)) 08th - 11th November 2022
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Results
• Recruitment of participants as of 26th September 2022:

No of participants No of participants randomized (%) Mean Age

screened n = 36
Male Female
51 23 (63.9) 13 (36.1) 52

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

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• Fourteen (14) participants have been discharged after complete
healing of ulcers.
• Eleven (11) participants’ ulcers did not heal after 24 dressing changes.
• One (1) participant voluntarily exited from the trial after 18 dressing
changes. Ulcer was close to healing but participant decided to leave.
• There was follow-up after 6 months from randomization for 13
participants with no recurrence in ulcers for those that were healed.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

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Conclusion
• In this study, we are experimenting the use of honey for the
treatment of ulcers in leprosy.
• Our expectation is to obtain a validation for the use of locally
available, easily accessible, and cost-effective natural remedy for ulcer
healing.
• Although it is yet too early to draw conclusion from our study, we
envisage good and verifiable outcomes in the end.
• We recommend that researchers explore more simple natural
products for effective healing of chronic injuries.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

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Challenges
• The challenge of insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria slowed the
recruitment process.
• Recruitment is also slow during the farming season because most
participants are engaged in farming activities.
• Participants on admission want to be with families during festive
seasons.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

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Acknowledgement
This research was funded by the National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR) (NIHR200132) using UK aid from the UK
Government to support global health research. The views
expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not
necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK Department of Health
and Social Care.

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care
Partners

21st International Leprosy Congress 2022 08th - 11th November 2022

Better Knowledge - Early Diagnosis- Improved Care