Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40397937›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

Impact of Mānuka Honey on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Individuals With Functional Dyspepsia: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Laura Ombasa, Jody Miller, Lara Ware, Holly Abbotts-Holmes, Jeffry Tang, Olivier Gasser, Karl Fraser, Simone Bayer, Roslyn Kemp, Rory Costello and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Intervention WithFood science & nutrition · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Laura OmbasaDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-6735-9478
Jody MillerDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-5422-223X
Lara WareDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-2304-5928
Holly Abbotts-HolmesDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0009-0006-4483-2345
Jeffry TangHigh-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-1326-4673
Olivier GasserHigh-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-8235-2274
Karl FraserAgResearch, Palmerston North, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-1136-4024
Simone BayerHigh-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-5880-2095
Roslyn KempDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-9092-1150
Rory CostelloDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-2963-0685
Andrew HightonDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-3967-016X
Jackie EvansComvita NZ Limited, Paengaroa, New Zealand.ORCID 0009-0006-2271-9659
Troy MerryComvita NZ Limited, Paengaroa, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-8699-500X
Michael SchultzDepartment of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-3116-0747
Chris FramptonStatistecol, Christchurch, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-3109-4348
Richard GearryHigh-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, Auckland, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-2298-5141
Warren McNabbRiddet Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0003-2514-6551
Nicole RoyDepartment of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-6744-9705

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFunctional dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal condition that reduces the quality of life and increases health care costs. The lack of well-defined causes limits effective treatments. Consumers report using mānuka honey to treat gastrointestinal symptoms, although clinical evidence supporting such use is limited. Preclinical studies suggest its unique bioactive compounds may reduce gastrointestinal inflammation. Recently, 3,6,7-trimethyllumazine (Lepteridine), a natural pteridine in mānuka honey, was shown to inhibit enzymes involved in gastrointestinal inflammation in in vitro studies. Therefore, Lepteridine-standardized mānuka honey may deliver digestive health benefits.

objectiveThe aim of this feasibility study is to gather the data required to estimate sample size and support study logistics to design future trials. The primary objective will be preliminary assessments of the impact of Lepteridine-standardized mānuka honey on symptom severity and the quality of life in participants with mild-to-moderate functional dyspepsia. Other feasibility objectives include assessing the biological responses to mānuka honey standardized to medium and high levels of Lepteridine and measuring mānuka honey-derived metabolites in blood and urine.

methodsThis is a 3-arm, parallel, controlled, double-blind, randomized feasibility study. A total of 75 healthy adults with symptoms of functional dyspepsia (Rome IV criteria) and mild-to-moderate dyspepsia severity (Short Form Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire) were recruited between October 2022 and September 2023. Participants were randomized into one of three groups: (1) mānuka honey standardized to contain 10 mg/kg Lepteridine, (2) mānuka honey standardized to contain 40 mg/kg Lepteridine, or (3) honey maple flavored syrup control. After a 2-week lead-in period, participants consumed 10 g of allocated intervention twice daily for 6 weeks. Throughout the study, participants completed daily bowel movement diaries and validated weekly questionnaires about their gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life. Stool samples and 3-day diet records were collected at baseline and the end of the intervention. Blood samples were collected at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and at the end of the intervention. In addition, 6 healthy participants without symptoms of functional dyspepsia were recruited to undergo an acute 5-hour assessment for the appearance of Lepteridine and related metabolites in plasma and urine following consumption of Lepteridine-standardized mānuka honey. The study was approved by the Northern B Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

resultsInitial analysis includes 68 participants, with laboratory and data analyses being undertaken as of March 2024. The results of the primary and secondary outcomes will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

conclusionsThis study will provide essential information on the potential efficacy and suitability of Lepteridine-standardized mānuka honey for designing future clinical trials investigating its effect in treating symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622001140741p; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=384094. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/66417.

Indexed as

DyspepsiaHoneyLeptospermumQuality of LifeAdultDouble-Blind MethodFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicfeasibility protocolfunctional dyspepsiaLepteridinemānuka honeyquality of liferandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID40397937
PMCPMC12138293

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.