How Manuka Honey Might Help with Breast Cancer? Insights and Research

A recent study reported in the Journal Nutrients outlined the promising role of Manuka Honey, in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

In 2022, approximately 2.3 million women globally were diagnosed with breast cancer, which ranks as the second most prevalent cancer worldwide. Around 80% of breast cancer cases are estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), indicating that the cancer cells have receptors that attach to estrogen and may depend on the hormone for their growth.

Treatment options for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer currently include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy. Previous research has also explored complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treating estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. This includes antioxidant supplements, yoga, mindfulness practices, and acupuncture.

Current studies now suggest that Manuka honey might serve as an alternative prevention and treatment option for breast cancer, especially estrogen receptor -positive breast cancer, based on studies using animal and cancer cell models.

Manuka honey is produced by bees that gather nectar from the Manuka tree, native to Australia and New Zealand.

In this study, researchers employed both mouse and breast cancer cell models to investigate the effects of Manuka honey on breast cancer. They discovered that Manuka honey led to an 84% reduction in tumour growth in mice with estrogen receptor -positive breast cancer cells, while not adversely affecting healthy breast cells or causing significant side effects.

Scientists found that higher quantities of Manuka honey were linked to a more significant decrease in cancer cell growth. Furthermore, the research indicated that Manuka honey helped lower the activity of signaling pathways commonly elevated in cancer, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Ak strain transforming (AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), all of which are involved in tumor cell growth and survival.

Reference: Márquez-Garbán DC, Yanes CD, Llarena G, Elashoff D, Hamilton N, Hardy M, Wadehra M, McCloskey SA, Pietras RJ. Manuka Honey Inhibits Human Breast Cancer Progression in Preclinical Models. Nutrients. 2024; 16(14):2369. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142369