Study: Honey Boosts Wound Healing Through Reduction in pH

New Study Shows the Use of MEDIHONEY(TM) Wound & Burn Dressing is Associated with Reduction in Wound Size
PR Newswire, 4/8/2008

PRINCETON, N.J., April 8, 2008 -- Derma Sciences Inc (OTC Bulletin Board: DSCI), a provider of advanced wound care products, announced today that the most recent study involving MEDIHONEY(TM) Wound & Burn Dressing shows that use of the dressings are associated with a reduction in wound size, possibly driven in part by a significant reduction in overall wound pH.

The 20-patient study will be published in the May edition of the International Wound Journal. The article -- "The impact of Manuka honey dressings on the surface pH of chronic wounds" -- was written by Georgina T. Gethin, Seamus Cowman and Ronan Conroy, all of the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland. The May edition of the International Wound Journal is a special edition of this globally-recognized peer-reviewed journal, and will be distributed to the attendees of the upcoming World Union of Wound Healing Societies conference, to be held in Toronto this June 4-8.

According to the abstract for the article, the authors evaluated the progression of 20 non-healing ulcers of various etiologies following application of the dressings over a period of two weeks. The dressings were provided by Derma Sciences' global commercialization partner, Comvita New Zealand, Inc. The authors cite their rationale for researching pH modulation in chronic wounds as follows:

"Chronic non-healing wounds have an elevated alkaline environment. The acidic pH of Manuka honey makes it a potential treatment for lowering wound pH, but the duration of the effect is unknown. Lowering wound pH can potentially reduce protease activity, increase fibroblast activity and increase oxygen release, consequently aiding wound healing."

After two weeks of treatment with the dressings, the authors concluded that, for this group of previously non-healing ulcers, "the use of Manuka honey dressings was associated with a statistically significant decrease in wound pH and a reduction in wound size." Significant wound progression during a two-week period is noted as a strong predictor of good wound healing outcomes…