Background & aims: Rates of obesity and diabetes are increasing in Western populations, and it is suggested
that these diseases can be moderated, in part, by consuming foods that produce a low blood sugar
response. Anecdotally honeys are thought to be comparable to simple sugars for sweetness and glycaemic
response, although little is currently known about the medically beneficial Manuka honey from
New Zealand. The aim of this study was to measure the glycaemic index (GI) of five samples of Manuka
honey from different geographic origins.
Methods: Five high methylglyoxal (460e667 mg/kg) Manuka honey samples were selected from different
geographical locales around the North Island of NZ and tested for GI in 10 healthy volunteers in a singleblinded,
randomised study. Participants were fed honey containing 25 g of available carbohydrate in
200 ml water and the blood glucose responses measured (incremental area under the curve; IAUC) and
compared to that of 25 g of available carbohydrate from glucose.
Results: All five honey samples were shown to have moderate GI values (54e59), although variation
amongst the group was high.