Honey produced from Korean hawthorn flowers may reduce prostate weight and male hormone levels in subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia [1].
These findings suggest a potential natural intervention for prostate health, while providing a new economic opportunity for beekeepers struggling with the effects of climate change [1, 2].
The research was a joint effort between the Rural Development Administration and the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine [1]. The study focused on honey gathered from a hawthorn forest in Jangheung, located in South Jeolla Province, South Korea [1, 2].
Researchers administered the honey to test rats with experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia for six weeks [1]. According to the study, the prostate weight in these rats decreased by 19.3% [1]. Additionally, the levels of male hormones that promote the enlargement of the prostate dropped by 72.2% [1].
Choi Jang-gi, director of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine's Hanui Technology Application Center, said the thickness of the enlarged prostate epithelium also decreased by over 60% [1]. This reduction indicates that the tissue returned to a more normal level [1].
The study aims to identify functional benefits of hawthorn honey to create a specialized product for the market [1, 2]. By establishing the health benefits of this specific honey, the institutes hope to support rural honey producers who face fluctuating yields due to environmental shifts [2].
“Prostate weight decreased by 19.3%”
While these results are promising, they are based on animal models rather than human clinical trials. The study indicates a biochemical pathway where hawthorn honey may inhibit the hormonal drivers of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but further research is required to determine if these effects translate to human patients and to establish safe dosage levels.
