Nutritional Benefits of Clover Honey Supplementation in Malnourished Children: Effects on Growth and Lipid Profiles

Abdulrhman, Mamdouh A; Elsherif, Marwa S; Mohamed, Nagwa I; Abdelhaleem, Bassma A

doi:10.21608/asmj.2025.384528.1457

Nutritional Benefits of Clover Honey Supplementation in Malnourished Children: Effects on Growth and Lipid Profiles

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pediatric Departement, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

² Pediatric departement, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

³ General practitioner, Ministry of Health

⁴ Pediatric department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

10.21608/asmj.2025.384528.1457

Abstract

Background: In the Egyptian context, malnutrition is a substantial health problem that affect both growth, and development of growing children. Chronic malnutrition has deleterious effect on bodily metabolic functions, giving rise to a multitude of metabolic dysregulations. Among these, dyslipidemia has been identified as a prominent concern.
Aim: The study examined the potential benefits of clover honey supplementation on growth and lipid metabolism in malnourished infants and children.
Methods: This randomized prospective interventional study was conducted on 40 malnourished infants and children divided into two equal groups: Group A received honey in a dose of 1.75ml/kg/day plus the WHO recommended nutritional interventional for 12 weeks and Group B received only WHO recommended nutritional interventional. Anthropometric measurements and fasting lipid profile levels were measured at baseline and after 3 months
Results: A statistically significant discrepancy in the rate of change was observed between the two groups with respect to weight, height, and body mass index. The p-value for all three variables was 0.000, indicating a high level of statistical significance. Similar findings were also observed regarding the rate of change of the lipid profile. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL all decreased, while HDL increased. The p-value for all four variables was 0.000.
Conclusions: Honey consumption significantly improved nutritional status and lowered lipid profile, making it a promising, affordable solution for tackling malnutrition in low-income countries.

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