Review of the multifaceted health benefits of Malaysian honeys: Impacts on pregnancy

Abstract

Honey has been utilised as traditional medicine due to its variety of health benefits. Both flavonoids and phenolic content in honey possess numerous health advantages, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Malaysian honeys such as kelulut honey (KH), tualang honey (TH), gelam honey (GH), acacia honey (AH), and pineapple honey (PH) are reported to exert positive effects towards the female reproductive system, particularly on hormonal regulation and protection against harmful materials that could lead to infertility. The nutritional compounds in Malaysian honey, including vitamin B6, iron, folate, fructose, and other minerals, are found to have positive effects on anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy, such as reducing nausea and vomiting, improving pre-eclampsia, iron deficiency anaemia, neural tube defects, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Moreover, consuming Malaysian honey can also serve as a preventive measure against urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Previous studies have mentioned the benefits of Malaysian honey, but only a few have discussed its advantages on the female reproductive system and pregnancy. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive literature review, with a focus on the advantageous roles of chemical compositions in Malaysian honeys during pregnancy and their impacts on the female reproductive system.