Manuka honey could one day be used as an alternative, natural option for breast cancer prevention and treatment, according to a new study published this week.
Mice who were fed manuka honey by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) saw an 84 percent reduction in tumor growth, without affecting normal breast cells or causing major side effects.
"The findings provide hope for development of a natural, less toxic alternative to traditional chemotherapy," said first author Dr. Diana Marquez-Garban, professor of medicine at UCLA.
"Although more research is necessary to fully understand the benefits of natural compounds in cancer therapy, this study establishes a strong foundation for further exploration in this area."
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide, and this study focused on its most common subtype: estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, which affects about 70 to 80 percent of breast cancer patients.
Scientists found not only that manuka honey reduced tumor growth, but that higher concentrations of it led to a greater reduction in the growth of cancer cells, and that noncancerous cells were not affected—suggesting the honey may target cancer cells specifically.
The honey also induced cell death of breast cancer cells, not just restricting their growth.
When used in conjunction with already existing breast cancer treatments, such as tamoxifen—a commonly used drug in ER-positive breast cancer therapy—manuka honey seemed to enhance the drug's effectiveness.
The scientists concluded that the honey could be developed into a natural supplement or a stand-alone treatment against ER-positive breast cancer and would be particularly beneficial for patients who struggle to tolerate conventional therapies.
Robin Daly is the founder and chairman of Yes to Life, a charity that helps cancer patients pursue an integrative approach to their treatment, combining orthodox medicine with complementary and lifestyle methods.
He told Newsweek that the research was "extremely heartening" and "part of an increasing move toward taking other approaches outside of synthetic pharmaceuticals seriously."
"An exclusive reliance on pharmaceutical drugs alongside surgery and radiotherapy hasn't delivered the reliable treatments for cancer that we might have expected from the headlines," he said.
"Although this approach can deliver long remissions and good or acceptable quality of life for many, there is significant room for improvement."
He added that more of the "enormous resources" invested into cancer research should go into developing integrative cancer care, to address the disease holistically, bearing in mind lifestyle, nutrition and treatment side effects.
"This study is a demonstration of the potential of just one natural, entirely nontoxic and health-promoting substance to help deliver durable remissions from cancer," he said.
"I'm confident it is through following lines of research such as this that we will begin to deliver the kind of care and outcomes we would all hope for, as well as to find the desperately needed answers for how to prevent the rising tide of cancer."
Manuka honey has long been known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, effective against bacteria and inflammation. It is rich in beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids, vitamins, amino acids and minerals.
Researchers theorize that manuka honey may block estrogen receptors, which might be why it could be effective as a treatment against hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
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References
Márquez-Garbán, D.C., Yanes C.D., Llarena G., Elashoff D., Hamilton N., Hardy M., Wadehra M., McCloskey S.A., Pietras R.J. (2024). Manuka Honey Inhibits Human Breast Cancer Progression in Preclinical Models. Nutrients 16 (14): 2369. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16142369
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