Abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MS), a pathological state in which insulin resistance (IR) is the core of the body and the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and other substances is disrupted, leading to obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases and other metabolic disorders, is an important factor threatening human health. Honey is rich in sugars, phenols and other nutrients, and has many biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Numerous studies have shown that honey could alleviate MS and related diseases, and has a regulatory effect on the gut microbiota. With the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of MS and the development of functional honey products, this paper reviews the alleviative effect of honey and its bioactive components on MS from the perspectives of insulin resistance, regulating the glucose, lipid and protein metabolism pathways and modulating the gut microbiota, and summarizes recent progress in understanding the mechanism of action of honey against MS.

Key words: honey; metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance; glucose metabolism; lipid metabolism; protein metabolism; gut microbiota