Comvita Encouraged By Clinical Trial Results23 January 2008 | Admin New Zealand's leading producer of manuka honey Comvita is encouraged by the results from a clinical trial of medical honey. The HALT (Honey as Adjuvant therapy for Leg ulcers Trial) clinical trial was undertaken by the University of Auckland using honey dressings on venous leg ulcers in conjunction with compression therapy. Conducted in 2006, the results have just recently been published. Some press releases gave an impression the results were not in favour of honey, however actually this has been down to a matter of statistical significance due to the small numbers of people involved in the trial, and there was actually encouraging information from it. A positive finding from the HALT trial was the mean reduction from baseline ulcer area was 9.6% better in the honey treated group compared with the usual care group. There was also 23% fewer episodes of infection in the honey treated group. Hopefully these positive findings will encourage a greater number of people to participate in future clinical trials, so that the aspects of statistical significance in their results can be reduced. The HALT trial adds to other research, past and present, that shows positive effects in honey's use. Preliminary results from an Irish study at Sligo Hospital (full results expected to be published soon) using medical manuka honey from Comvita, determined a higher rate of debridement, reduced infection, and faster healing in the group using the honey. The participants had ulcers that had not improved within 6 months of more conventional compression therapy alone. | 
