LC–MS/MS Profiling Examines Links Between Kelulut Honey Compounds and Bone Outcomes in a Metabolic Syndrome Model

A collaborative study involving Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Cheras), Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh), and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) investigated the effects of Kelulut honey on metabolic syndrome (MetS)-induced osteoporosis in male rats fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. The researchers evaluated bone density, biomechanical strength, microstructural features, and cellular histomorphometry. They also examined how the honey influenced skeletal redox status, bone marrow adiposity, and the expression of genes involved in bone remodeling to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Additionally, the honey’s chemical composition was profiled using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Their findings were published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences (1).

A cluster of conditions, including abdominal obesity, abnormal lipid levels, elevated blood sugar, and hypertension, which significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, MetS has been found to impact individuals regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity; with worldwide prevalence rates range from 12.5% to 31.4%, posing a major public health challenge (2,3). Components of MetS have been connected to factors linked with osteoporosis development; additionally, bone loss has been discovered in rats with MetS induced by a high-carbohydrate high-fat (HCHF) diet in earlier studies (4-6).

A functional food produced by stingless bees (Trigona species), Kelulut honey is rich in polyphenols, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, compared to other commercially available honey (7-9). Previous research has revealed that the supplementation of honey can improve metabolic parameters through the decrease of body fat percentage, triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and adipocyte hypertrophy in a rat model of high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced obesity (10).

In this study, male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The normal control group was fed standard food, while the HCHF groups were given an HCHF diet for 16 weeks. During the final eight weeks, one HCHF group received Kelulut honey (1 g/kg body weight/day) after chemical profiling of the honey was performed using LC-MS/MS methods. Bone density, biomechanics, histomorphometry, redox markers, and expression of genes relevant to bone cell differentiation were analyzed at the end of the study (1).

The researchers found through chemical profiling of the honey that a unique assortment of bioactive compounds and oligosaccharides were present. Furthermore, while a HCHF diet decreased bone displacement and strain, it increased stiffness compared to control subjects. In addition, bone marrow adipocyte numbers also increased with a HCHF diet. While the inclusion of Kelulut honey improved displacement and strain in HCHF-fed rats and reduced their bone marrow adipocyte number. no significant differences in bone density, structural and cellular histomorphometric indices, glutathione levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities were observed between groups (1).

A HCHF diet compromises bone mechanical strength and bone marrow adiposity, but Kelulut honey inverses these negative skeletal changes. These findings suggest Kelulut honey's potential protective role against MetS-related bone health issues, warranting further investigation into its mechanisms (1).

References

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