Evaluation of Honey and Propolis Consumption Habits of Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Year 2024, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 72 - 80, 22.04.2024

Gülşah Kaner , Çağla Ayer

https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1439100

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the consumption preferences and quantities of bee products in adults and to determine change in consumption of honey and propolis during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Material and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 1217 individuals between November 2021 and March 2022. An online questionnaire was used for data collection, which included descriptive characteristics and participants' honey and propolis consumption habits. The data was analyzed using number, percentage, mean, McNemar, and Marginal Homogeneity test.

Results: In this study, mean age of individuals was 26.84±10.96 years, 68.9% were male, 51.8% had a secondary education, and 73.4% had no chronic disease. It was found that honey and propolis increased among subjects during the pandemic (p<0.001). Participants consume honey and propolis because they are tasty and nutritious, strengthen immune system, and are effective in treating diseases. It was found that participants preferred filtered honey as honey type and multi-floral blossom honey (plateau) and honeydew (pine) as honey variety.

Conclusion: This study is the first study with a large sample size conducted in Türkiye to determine the consumption of honey and propolis in adults during the pandemic and to evaluate the changes due to the pandemic. The results of this study show that the consumption of honey and propolis has increased during the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19, Honey, Propolis

Ethical Statement

The approval of the Ethics Committee for Non-interventional Clinical Research of Izmir Kâtip Çelebi University dated 21/10/2021 and number 0444 was obtained.

Supporting Institution

This research was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) 2209-A Projects Support Program.

COVID-19 Pandemi Sürecinde Yetişkinlerin Bal ve Propolis Tüketim Alışkanlıklarının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, yetişkinlerin arı ürünleri tüketim tercihlerini ve miktarlarını değerlendirmek, COVID-19 pandemisi döneminde bal ve propolis tüketimindeki değişimi belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır.

Materyal-Metot: Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki kesitsel çalışma, Kasım 2021 ile Mart 2022 tarihleri arasında 1217 kişi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Verilerin toplanmasında katılımcıların tanımlayıcı özellikleri, bal ve propolis ile ilgili tüketim alışkanlıklarını içeren çevrimiçi bir anket kullanıldı. Veriler sayı, yüzde, ortalama, McNemar ve Marjinal Homojenlik testiyle analiz edilmiştir.

Bulgular: Bu çalışmada bireylerin yaş ortalaması 26,84±10,96 yıl olup, %68,9’u erkek, %51,8’i ortaöğretim mezunu, %73,4’ünün herhangi bir kronik hastalığı bulunmamaktadır. Pandemi sürecinde katılımcıların bal ve propolis tüketiminin arttığı tespit edilmiştir (p<0.001). Katılımcılar bal ve propolisi lezzetli ve besleyici olmaları, bağışıklık sistemini güçlendirmeleri ve hastalıkların tedavisinde etkili olmaları nedeniyle tükettiklerini bildirmiştir. Katılımcıların bal türü olarak süzme balı, bal çeşidi olarak ise çok multifloral çiçek balı (yayla) ve çam balını (çam) tercih ettikleri belirlenmiştir.

Sonuç: Bu çalışma, pandemi sürecinde yetişkinlerde bal ve propolis tüketiminin belirlenmesi ve pandemiye bağlı değişikliklerin değerlendirilmesi amacıyla Türkiye’de yapılan geniş örneklemli ilk çalışmadır. Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre arı ürünleri olan bal ve propolis tüketimi pandemi döneminde artmıştır.

Keywords

COVID-19, Bal, Propolis

Ethical Statement

İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'nun 21/10/2021 tarih ve 0444 sayılı onayı alındı.

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırma Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu (TÜBİTAK) 2209-A Projeleri Destekleme Programı tarafından finanse edilmiştir.

References

• [1] Konakci G., Uran B.N.O., Erkin O. 2020. In the Turkish News: Coronavirus and “Alternative & complementary” Medicine Methods. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 53:102545.
• [2] Özdemir G., Ersöz E., Dilek N. 2021. Apitherapy and Health. Black Sea Journal of Health Science, 4(2):168-74.
• [3] Hossain K.S., Hossain M.G., Moni A., Rahman M.M., Rahman U.H., Alam M., et al. 2020. Prospects of Honey in Fighting Against COVID-19: Pharmacological Insights and Therapeutic Promises. Heliyon, 6(12). e0579.
• [4] Bogdanov S. 2020. Antiviral Properties of the Bee Products: a Review. Bee Products Against Viruses and for COVID-19 Prevention (review). www.bee-hexagon.net, (Accessed Date: 21.01.2024)
• [5] Hashemipour M.A., Tavakolineghad Z., Arabzadeh S., Iranmanesh Z., Nassab S. 2014. Antiviral Activities of Honey, Royal Jelly, and Acyclovir Against HSV-1. Wounds: A Compendium of Clinical Research and Practice, 26(2):47-54.
• [6] Ashraf S., Ashraf S., Ashraf M., Imran M.A., Kalsoom L., Siddiqui U.N., et al. 2020. Therapeutic Efficacy of Honey and Nigella Sativa Against COVID-19: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (HNS-COVID-PK). medRxiv, 10.30.20217364.
• [7] Ashraf S., Ashraf S., Ashraf M., Imran M.A., Kalsoom L., Siddiqui U.N., et al. 2023. Honey and Nigella Sativa Against COVID‐19 in Pakistan (HNS‐COVID‐PK): A Multicenter Placebo‐Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial. Phytotherapy Research, 37(2):627-44.
• [8] Mustafa M.Z., Shamsuddin S.H., Sulaiman S.A., Abdullah J.M. 2020. Anti-inflammatory Properties of Stingless Bee Honey May Reduce the Severity of Pulmonary Manifestations in COVID-19 İnfections. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: MJMS, 27(2):165.
• [9] Shaldam M.A., Yahya G., Mohamed N.H., Abdel-Daim M.M., Al Naggar Y. 2021. In Silico Screening of Potent Bioactive Compounds from Honeybee Products Against COVID-19 Target Enzymes. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(30):40507-14.
• [10] Bayram N.E., Sorkun K., Öz G.C., Salih B., Topçu G. 2018. Chemical Characterization of 64 Propolis Samples from Hakkari, Turkey. Records of Natural Products, 12(6):569.
• [11] Lokken E.M., Huebner E.M., Taylor G.G., Hendrickson S., Vanderhoeven J., Kachikis A., et al. 2021. Disease Severity, Pregnancy Outcomes, and Maternal Deaths Among Pregnant Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Washington State. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 225(1):77. e1-. e14.
• [12] Kowalczuk I., Stangierska D., Widera K., Fornal-Pieniak B., Latocha P. 2023. Determinants of Honey Consumption with Special Reference to the Influence of Nutritional Knowledge and Health Status on Consumption Habits. Applied Sciences, 13(2):979.
• [13] Bakhsh M.A., Khawandanah J., Naaman R.K., Alashmali S. 2021. The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Public Health, 21(1):1487.
• [14] Rachmani N., Apriantini A., ENSD L.C. 2023. Preferences of Young Consumers in Bogor City in Consuming Honey During the Covid 19 Pandemic. Jurnal Ilmu Produksi dan Teknologi Hasil Peternakan, 11(1):13-8.
• [15] Alotiby A.A., Al-Harbi L.N. 2021. Prevalence of Using Herbs and Natural Products As A Protective Measure During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Saudi Population: an Online Cross-Sectional Survey. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 29(5):410-7.
• [16] El-Alosey A.R., Eldiasty J.G., Abushalfeh I.Y., Almasaude A..A., Mosallam S.A.-E.R., Elmetwalli A. 2024. Perceptions of Medicinal Herbal Products During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period Among Saudi Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 397: 497–506.
• [17] Aldwihi L.A., Khan S.I., Alamri F.F., AlRuthia Y., Alqahtani F., Fantoukh O.I., et al. 2021. Patients’ Behavior Regarding Dietary or Herbal Supplements Before and During COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10):5086.
• [18] Kleisiari C., Kleftodimos G., Vlontzos G. 2023. Be(e)ha(i)viour(e): Assessment of Honey Consumption in Europe. British Food Journal, 125(4):1374-89.
• [19] Batt P.J., Liu A. 2012. Consumer Behaviour Towards Honey Products in Western Australia. British Food Journal, 114(2):285-97.
• [20] Attia Y.A., Giorgio G.M., Addeo N.F., Asiry K.A., Piccolo G., Nizza A., et al. 2022. COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts on Bees, Beekeeping, and Potential Role of Bee Products As Antiviral Agents and İmmune Enhancers. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29: 9592–9605.
• [21] Silveira M.A.D., De Jong D., Berretta A.A., dos Santos Galvão E.B., Ribeiro J.C., Cerqueira-Silva T., et al. 2021. Efficacy of Brazilian Green Propolis (EPP-AF®) as an Adjunct Treatment for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 138:111526.
• [22] Dilokthornsakul W., Kosiyaporn R., Wuttipongwaragon R., Dilokthornsakul P. 2022. Potential Effects of Propolis and Honey in COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment: A Systematic Review of in Silico and Clinical Studies. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 20(2):114-25.
• [23] Celik B., Dane S. 2020. The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak on Food Consumption Preferences and Their Causes. Journal Of Research in Medical and Dental Science, 8(3):169-73.