Multicentre, randomised study found that honey had no pharmacological effect on nocturnal coughs and sleep quality at 1–5 years of age

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 111; no. 11; pp. 2157 - 2164
• Main Authors: Nishimura, Tatsuo, Muta, Hiromi, Hosaka, Taisuke, Ueda, Makoto, Kishida, Kazue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norway 01-11-2022
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Cough - drug therapy; coughs; Double-Blind Method; Honey; Humans; Infant; placebo; randomised controlled trial; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Sleep Quality; upper respiratory tract infection; randomised controlled trial; coughs; honey; placebo; upper respiratory tract infection
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.16509

Aim
The World Health Organization has listed honey as a potential treatment for coughs, but there is little evidence to support its use for coughs associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). This study evaluated how effective honey was for treating nocturnal coughs and sleep difficulties.
Methods
This multicentre, randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study focused on patients aged 1–5 years with URTIs and coughs for up to 7 days. They were recruited from 13 general paediatric community clinics in Japan. The participants were given acacia honey or a honey‐flavoured syrup placebo in the hour before they were put down to sleep on 2 consecutive nights. Their nocturnal cough and sleep difficulties were assessed on both nights using a 7‐point Likert scale.
Results
The data collection for 161 patients took place between 20 November 2021 and 28 February 2022, with 78 randomly allocated to the honey group and 83 to the syrup placebo group. Both groups showed improvements on both the first and second nights, with no significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusion
Both groups showed improvements in their nocturnal coughs and sleep difficulties during the 2‐night study, but honey was no more effective than the syrup placebo.