Honey Has Beneficial Effect on Stress Hormone, Reproductive System

Stress hormone and reproductive system in response to honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities in female rats

Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:123640

This study was performed to determine the effects of 8-week honey supplementation combined with different jumping exercise intensities on serum cortisol, progesterone, estradiol, and reproductive organs. 

Eighty-four 9-week-old female rats were divided into 7 groups: baseline controls (C0), sedentary group (C), 20 and 80 jumps per day (Ex20J, Ex80J), honey (H), and combined honey with 20 and 80 jumps per day (HEx20J, HEx80J) groups. Jumping exercise was performed at 5 days/week and honey was given at a dosage of 1 g/kg body weight/day for 7 days/week. The level of serum cortisol was higher in Ex20J and Ex80J compared to C. There was significantly lower value of serum cortisol in HEx20J compared to Ex80J. Serum progesterone levels were significantly lower in Ex20J and Ex80J compared to C. However, serum progesterone levels were significantly higher in HEx20J and HEx80J compared to Ex20J and Ex80J. Relative uterine weights were significantly greater in HEx20J compared to C and HEx80J, respectively. There was no significant difference in estradiol level and relative ovarian weights among all the groups.

Therefore, honey elicited beneficial effects in reducing the increase of cortisol and in increasing the reduction of progesterone levels induced by different intensities jumping exercise in female rats.