BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice is a serious, life-threatening condition that can lead to death as a result of sepsis and multiorgan failure due to bacterial translocation. Treatment should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty 24-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats, with an average weight of 250 g to 300 g, were included in this study. The rats were randomly placed into five groups, each group consisted of eight rats. The sham group underwent only common bile duct (CBD) dissection and no ligation was performed. CBD ligation was applied to the other groups. After the operation, one CBD group was fed with rat chow only, the others were fed with rat chow supplemented with honey, or immunonutrients, or honey plus immunonutrients. After 10 to 12 days, all rats were sacrificed; blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, microbiological, and histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS: In the groups that were fed with honey and immunonutrients, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were decreased significantly compared to the other groups. Statistically significant differences were detected in terms of bacterial translocation (BT) rates among liver and spleen samples, and laboratory values of serum, except for MLNs of the BDL+HI group, when compared to other groups. We found mean mucosal thickness of ileum samples have been improved notably in the BDL+HI group compared to the other groups, especially compared to the C/BDL group.

CONCLUSIONS: Immunonutrition applied with honey had immunostimulant effects, decreased BT due to an additive effect, and had positive effects on intestinal mucosa.

Keywords: Bacterial Translocation, Honey, Intestines, Jaundice, Obstructive