Evaluating the combined effect of honey and walking on bone health in postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 years

This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of honey consumption and walking exercise on the bone speed of sound (SOS, an indicator of bone mineral density), t-score and z-score, blood bone metabolism markers, i.e., serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)(bone formation marker), serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (1CTP) (bone resorption marker) in 50 to 65 years old postmenopausal women. Forty postmenopausal women participants aged 50-65 years old were being assigned into four groups: control (C), honey supplementation alone (H), walking exercise alone (Ex) and combined honey supplementation and exercise (HEx) groups. Walking exercise sessions were carried out 30 minutes per session, three sessions per week for six weeks by participants in Ex and HEx groups. Honey drink was consumed by participants in H and HEx groups with 20 grams of honey diluted in 300 ml water seven days per week for six weeks. Participants’ bone SOS, T-score and Z-score, serum ALP and 1CTP were determined. It was found that 37.8% of the participants had normal bone health status, 30.4% had osteopenia, and 29.7% had osteoporosis. There were no statistically significant differences in bone SOS, T-score, Z-score, serum ALP and 1CTP between pre- and post tests in all the groups. Six weeks of HEx did not significantly affect bone SOS and bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women. Future studies with higher frequency and intensity of exercise and longer intervention duration are warranted for determining the beneficial effects of this combination on improving bone health and metabolism in postmenopausal women.