Honeybee products for the treatment and recovery from viral respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2: A rapid systematic review

Background: This rapid review systematically evaluated the effects of honeybee products compared to controls for the prevention, duration, severity, and recovery of acute viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including SARS-CoV-2, in adults and children. Methods: Cochrane rapid review methods w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Susan Arentz, Jennifer Hunter, Baljit Khamba, Michelle Mravunac, Zemirah Lee, Kristen Alexander, Romy Lauche, Joshua Goldenberg, Stephen P Myers
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: Elsevier 2021
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Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/70c88f53223a4bf09364c8960355b6e8
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Summary:Background: This rapid review systematically evaluated the effects of honeybee products compared to controls for the prevention, duration, severity, and recovery of acute viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including SARS-CoV-2, in adults and children. Methods: Cochrane rapid review methods were applied. Four English databases plus preprint servers and trial registries were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The evidence was appraised and synthesized using RoB 2.0 and GRADE. Results: 27 results were derived from 9 RCTs that included 674 adults and 781 children. In hospitalized adults with SARS-CoV-2, propolis plus usual-care compared to usual-care alone reduced the risk of shock, respiratory failure and kidney injury and duration of hospital admission. Honey was less effective than Guaifenesin for reducing cough severity at 60-minutes in adults with non-specific acute viral RTIs. Compared to coffee, honey plus coffee, and honey alone reduced the severity of post-infectious cough in adults. Honey reduced the duration of cough in children compared to placebo and salbutamol; and the global impact of nocturnal cough after one night compared to usual-care alone and pharmaceutical cough medicines. Conclusion: More studies are needed to robustly assess honeybee's role in SARS-CoV-2 and non-specific viral respiratory infections. Protocol registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020193847.