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Methylglyoxal (MGO) – a bioactive honey constituent with scientifically supported health benefits

Laura Schneider
Laura Schneider ✓
Diets Premium Expert • 24.09.2026
✓
Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian: This article has been peer-reviewed for adherence to IŻŻ, WHO, and PTGiP clinical nutritional standards.
Diets Premium Expert Laura Schneider min read 4 min Scientifically reviewed by a clinical dietitian 24.09.2026
Methylglyoxal (MGO) – a bioactive honey constituent with scientifically supported health benefits

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Key Takeaways
For millennia, honey has been revered as a natural product distinguished by its exceptionally rich nutritional profile and a broad array of health-promoting properties. Advances in scientific research have deepened our understanding of the chemical composition of this apicultural product, including the identification of key bioactive compounds responsible for its therapeutic effects. Of particular note is **Methylglyoxal (MGO)** – an organic aldehyde exhibiting pronounced antimicrobial activity, whose presence in honey is closely linked to its botanical and geographical origin. The mechanisms underlying its formation, as well as the varying concentrations across different honey varieties, remain active areas of scientific investigation aimed at harnessing its full potential for clinical and nutritional applications.
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Methylglyoxal

Methylglyoxal (MGO) ist eine organische Verbindung aus der Gruppe von Glysalien, die zu Aldehyden gehören. Seine anderen Namen sind Pyrogrone-Aldehyd oder Acetylformaldehyd. Diese Verbindung ist eine Substanz mit higroskopischen Eigenschaften leicht in Wasser und Ethanol löslich.

Methylglyoxal Eigenschaften

Die antibakterielle Wirkung verhindert die Verbreitung von Bakterien, Pilzen, Viren oder Papillonen durch die Beeinträchtigung der Bakterienzellstrukturen und die Verhinderung ihrer Einsiedlung im Körper [1]; verhütet Infektionen, stärkt das Immunsystem. Es beschleunigt die Heilung von Wunden, Verbrennungen und Entfrostungen ist jedoch nicht wirksam bei der Behandlung von Diabetes [3]. Die antiinflammatorischen Wirkungen. Anti-Krebswirkung [2]. Experimentelle Studien zeigen, dass die Aktivität von Methylglyoxalux Vitamin C stärkt, das ähnlich wie es die Antibiotika-Eigenschaften besitzt.

In welchem Honig ist Methylglyoxal enthalten?

Im Jahr 2008 erschienen in der Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Journal die Ergebnisse von Prof. Thomas Henle, der Methylglyoxal aus neuseeländischen Manuka-Hähnen isolierte und beschrieb. Der MGO-Gehalt ist am höchsten und reicht zwischen 30 und 550 mg/kg Honig. Die Menge des Wirkstoffs in Honig sollte auf sein Etikett angezeigt werden Wir finden auf ihm Informationen über den Mindestgehalt an Methylgyoxal.

Methylglyoxal nur in Honig?

Methylglyoxal ist natürlich in vielen Lebensmitteln vorhanden, u.a. in Käsesorten, Bäckern, Kaffee und einigen Alkoholen, in Grünen Tee, Soja, Tomaten, Orangensaft oder Kakao. Es ist jedoch deutlich kleiner als in Manuka-Halb und, wie die Studien von Prof. Henle gezeigt haben, sind wichtige MGO-Quellen diejenigen, die 100 mg Methylgyoxal pro Kilogramm des Produkts enthalten.
Laura Schneider

Laura Schneider

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Diets Premium Expert

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