The effect of Apis dorsata honey as complementary therapy on IL-37 levels and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Apis dorsata Honey as a complementary therapy on IL-37 levels and fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHOD: The study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. A total of 30 subjects were recruited using a concurrent sampling technique. The intervention group consisted of 15 subjects who received oral honey at a dose of 13 ml (1 tablespoon × 3) for 15 days, and the control group consisted of 15 subjects. The groups’ samples were chosen at random. The Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI) was used to assess the side effects of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Although the effect of Apis dorsata Honey on IL-37 levels was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), the group given honey experienced a clinically significant increase in IL-37 levels, with a mean before (632.37514.93) and post (632.37514.93). (1,003.021,248.88). Fatigue decreased statistically significantly in the group given mean honey values prior to 13.205.59 and after 11.805.07 (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Honey administration increases IL-37 levels clinically, though the increase is not statistically significant. Giving honey to patients with breast cancer can help alleviate fatigue caused by chemotherapy.