Impact of olive oil and honey on healing of diabetic foot: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Zohreh Karimi,1,2 Mohammad Behnammoghadam,3,4 Hossein Rafiei,5 Naeem Abdi,6,7 Mohammad Zoladl,8 Mohammad Sharif Talebianpoor,9 Arash Arya,10 Maryam Khastavaneh81Department of Operating Room, School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 2Deputy Education School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 3Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 4Center of Disease Registry, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 5Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; 6Department of Critical Care Nursing, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 7School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 8Department of Nursing, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 9Department of Pharmacology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 10Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, IranBackground: This study aimed 1) to examine the impact of honey on diabetic foot; 2) to examine the effect of olive oil on diabetic foot; and 3) to compare the impact of honey and olive oil in the healing of diabetic foot.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 45 patients took part. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups. In the honey group, the wound was dressed using gauzes with honey daily for 1 month. In the olive oil group, the wound was dressed using gauzes with olive oil (4 mL) daily for 1 month. Patients in the control group received usual dressing. Wounds were assessed before and after intervention using the Wagner scoring system and the checklist of diabetic foot healing (where a higher score indicates better wound healing).Results: Demographic characteristics of patients in the three groups were similar. Mean scores of tissue around the wound, wound grade, wound drainage, and wound healing were similar before intervention in all three groups. After intervention, means score of tissue around the wound, wound grade, wound drainage, and wound healing were significantly higher in patients in the honey and olive oil groups compared to patients in the control group.Conclusion: The results of this study reveal that honey is as effective as olive oil in the treatment of diabetic foot. Given the few studies on this topic, further investigation is needed.Keywords: foot ulcer, olive oil, therapeutic use, honey

Keywords

• Foot Ulcer
• Olive Oil/therapeutic use
• Honey