Oral Kelulut honey to help itchy, red, watery and dry eyes from allergic conjunctivitis

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Oral Kelulut Honey Supplementation on Conjunctival Goblet Cell Density, Tear Film Stability, Dry Eye Disease Symptoms and Vision-Related Function in Patients With Allergic Conjunctivitis

This trial will see if adults with allergic conjunctivitis who take daily oral Kelulut honey for one month have less itchy, red, watery eyes and dry eye symptoms than people taking a honey‑flavored placebo, and it will monitor side effects.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 72 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Universiti Sains Malaysia (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Kota Bharu, Kelantan)
• Trial ID: NCT07273747 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, placebo‑controlled interventional trial at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia comparing daily oral Kelulut honey (60 g or 120 g) to a honey‑flavored zero‑calorie placebo for one month. Adults aged 18–40 with confirmed allergic conjunctivitis and an OSDI score >12 will be enrolled and continue their conventional allergic conjunctivitis treatment. Outcomes include patient‑reported symptoms (OSDI, itchiness, redness, tearing), objective tear film stability measures and conjunctival goblet cell health, along with recording adverse events. The trial excludes people with other ocular surface disease, diabetes, recent eye surgery or trauma, recent contact lens use, systemic inflammatory conditions, or concurrent use of conflicting medications or supplements.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–40 years old with confirmed allergic conjunctivitis, OSDI >12, and who are compliant with standard allergic conjunctivitis treatments are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People with other ocular surface diseases, diabetes, recent ocular surgery or trauma, recent contact lens wear, systemic inflammatory or connective tissue diseases, or those using excluded medications or supplements are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, Kelulut honey could provide a simple, low‑cost oral supplement to reduce itchiness, redness, watery and dry eye symptoms in people with allergic conjunctivitis.

How similar studies have performed: This approach is relatively novel for oral Kelulut honey and has limited clinical evidence, though some small studies of topical honey preparations have shown mixed results.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

i. Age between 18-40 years old ii. Confirmed diagnosis of allergic conjunctivits iii. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score \> 12 iv. Compliance to conventional allergic conjunctivitis treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

i. Any corneal or ocular surface pathology ii. Known diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose test iii. Ocular surface disease due to trachoma or other inflammatory conditions iv. Consume anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids, NSAIDS, oral doxycycline v. Concurrent use of other supplements or alternative therapies such as royal jelly, Manuka honey eye drop or omega-3 fatty acid vi. Using preservative-containing topical eye drops for ocular problems other than AC, such as anti-glaucoma medication vii. History of ocular trauma/surgery or refractive surgery within last 3 years viii. Wearing contact lens in the last 3 months ix. Underlying inflammatory/ systemic disease and connective tissue diseases x. Recent conjunctivitis in the last 3 months xi. Patients on immunosuppressant

Where this trial is running

Kota Bharu, Kelantan

• Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia — Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Shahidatul Adha Dr, MD, MMed — Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Study coordinator: Sharifah Izzati Dr, MD

Conditions Dry Eye Symptoms; Allergic Conjunctivitis of Both Eyes