%0 Journal Article
%T Tualang Honey Supplementation Reduces Blood Oxidative Stress Levels/Activities in Postmenopausal Women
%A Nazlahshaniza Shafin
%A Zahiruddin Othman
%A Rahimah Zakaria
%A Nik Hazlina Nik Hussain
%J ISRN Oxidative Medicine
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/364836
%X This study aimed to investigate the ability of Tualang honey (TH), a phytoestrogen, to reduce blood oxidative stress levels/activities in postmenopausal women and compared the effects with the standard estrogen progestin therapy (EPT). A total of 78 healthy postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to one of two groups; EPT group received Femoston conti 1/5 (1£¿mg 17¦Â-estradiol and 5£¿mg dydrogesterone), and TH group, received 20£¿g of TH supplement daily for 16 weeks. The reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH£¿:£¿GSSG), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) levels/activities were measured at pre- and postinterventions using commercially available kits. The plasma GPx and CAT activities were notably increased, and plasma 4-HNE level was significantly decreased in postmenopausal women who received EPT and TH supplementation. TH supplementation for 16 weeks was able to reduce blood oxidative stress levels/activities of postmenopausal women comparable to those who received EPT. Thus, TH has a potential to be used as antioxidant therapy to combat oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative diseases. This trial is registered with NCT01300676. 1. Introduction Studies have shown that oxidative stress is increased in postmenopausal women, and it was reversed by antioxidant action of estrogen [1¨C3]. The antioxidant action of estrogens in vivo is due not to their chemical phenolic structure but rather to their interaction with estrogen receptors in cells which eventually lead to the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF¦ÊB) [4, 5]. Despite the proven benefit of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), beliefs about side effects and concerns about safety hinder the acceptance of HRT among patients even in recent researches [6]. Hence, there is a need to find a comparable alternative treatment to alleviate postmenopausal symptoms. Honey contains various kinds of phytochemicals with high phenolic and flavonoid content which contribute to its high antioxidant activity [7, 8]. Flavonoids and other polyphenols, common constituents of honey, have the potential to impound metal ions in complexes, preventing the formation of free radicals [9]. Malaysian Tualang honey (TH) is reported to have the highest antiradical activity compared to Gelam honey, Indian forest honey, and Pineapple honey [10] and a total of six phenolic acids and five flavonoids [10¨C12]. Recently, our research group has reported the beneficial effects of estrogen progestin therapy
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.oxidative.medicine/2014/364836/