Honey composition and health effects reviewed
What it found
Honey has a range of positive nutritional and health effects when eaten in larger amounts of 50 to 80 g per intake.
The paper is a review of its composition and effects.
What they found
Honey varies by source
Honey differs in appearance, taste and make-up depending on which plants the bees visited.
Main components
The main nutrition and health relevant parts are carbohydrates, mostly fructose and glucose, plus about 25 different oligosaccharides.
Glycemic index range
Even though honey is high in carbohydrate, its glycemic index ranges widely from 32 to 85, depending on the botanical source.
Minor components
Honey also contains small amounts of proteins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, aroma compounds and polyphenols.
Health effects at higher doses
Honey has a variety of positive nutritional and health effects if consumed at higher doses of 50 to 80 g per intake.
What the authors conclude
“It shows that honey has a variety of positive nutritional and health effects, if consumed at higher doses of 50 to 80 g per intake.”
Also in their conclusions
- They report that honey has a variety of positive nutritional and health effects.
- They note these effects occur if honey is consumed at higher doses of 50 to 80 g per intake.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review, so it cannot show cause and effect from honey itself.
- It does not say how long the effects last or whether they apply to everyone.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Switzerland
The paper
- Title
- Honey for nutrition and health: a review
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Bogdanov S, Jurendic T, Sieber R, Gallmann P (2008). Honey for nutrition and health: a review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. doi:10.1080/07315724.2008.10719745PubMed 19155427DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error