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Abstract
It has been proven that malnutition is the most common cause of immunodeficiency worldwide; PEM is associated with a significant impairment of cell mediated immunity, phagocytic function and complement. This study was designed to examine the effect of honey in a calculated dose (20 ml/Kg) on phagocytic function in those patients and whether it would improve (and so help nutritional rehabilitation) or not.
Patients: 30 patients suffering from (PEM), as well as 20 healthy infants participated in this study.
The patients were divided into 2 equal groups, during nutritional rehabilitation, where one group was rehabilitated using the honey and the other without honey. Phagocytic index was assessed before nutritional rehabilitation and after 2 weeks of nutritional rehabilitation.
After nutritional rehabilitation,the phagocytic index was significantly higher in both PEM groups compared to initial values,but was still significantly lower than the control group. However, after nutritional rehabilitation phagocytic index values in the group who received nutritional rehabilitation with honey supplementation was significant higher than those who received nutritional rehabilitation without honey supplementation. Moreover,the rate of change of phagocytic index was significantly higher in honey supplemented group than non honey supplemented group.
Using honey in nutritional rehabilitation program of patients suffering from PEM may have a better immuno-modulatory effect especially on more rapid recovery of their phagocytic function. Longer term follow up is recommended to clear this point