Effects of Dietary Honey and Ardeh Combination on Chemotherapy- Induced Gastrointestinal and Infectious Complications in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary combination of honey and Ardeh on chemotherapy-induced complications in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
A total of 107 AML patients who underwent chemotherapy for at least 30 consecutive days were recruited to this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical-trial which was conducted in the Imam Reza and Ghaem teaching hospitals (Mashhad, Iran). They were divided into two age and sex-matched groups: 58 treated and 49 untreated patients. A combination of 50 grams of honey and 150 grams of Ardeh was added to the treated group’s diet for 30 consecutive days, three times each day; while the untreated group received their regular diet.Both groups received their standard medication for AML as well. After one month, they were all examined and lab tests were done on them by an internist and laboratory technicians who were blinded to the subject allocations.
Mean value of WBC count in treated group was significantly lower than that of untreated group. Duration of fever and admission in the hospital due to fever were both significantly lower in the treated group (P=0.014, P=0.032 respectively).
Total gastrointestinal complications were significantly less in the treated group one month after therapy with the special honey and Ardeh compound. No unusual or unexpected side effects were observed. Honey and Ardeh are easily accessible materials that can be helpfully administered in AML patients receiving chemotherapy, since their useful effects in ameliorating gastrointestinal complications and reducing fever and neutropenia in AML patients have been shown.