Royal jelly is a thick, milky substance produced by worker bees to feed the queen bee. The worker bees mix honey and bee pollen with enzymes in the glands of their throats to produce royal jelly.
Royal jelly is believed to be a potentially useful supplement because of the queen bee’s superior size, strength, stamina, and longevity compared to other bees, but these effects have not been studied in humans. Royal jelly contains all of the B vitamins, including high concentrations of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).1 Other nutritional qualities of royal jelly are similar to those of pollen.2
Test tube studies suggest royal jelly may have some cancer-preventive properties.3 Animal studies have found that royal jelly has some cholesterol-lowering,4 immune-stimulating,5 anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties.6
Scientific investigation into the health-promoting properties of royal jelly in humans has been limited to its ability to lower blood cholesterol levels. There have been ten human studies published, seven of which were double-blind.7 Of these seven double-blind studies, only three studies utilized an oral preparation of royal jelly;8 9 10 an injectable form was used in the other four.11 12 13 A detailed analysis of the oral double-blind studies concluded there were many shortcomings in the design of the research, but royal jelly in amounts of 50–100 mg per day reduced total cholesterol levels by about 14% in people with moderately high cholesterol levels.14
Melbrosia, a mixture of royal jelly, flower pollen, and fermented bee pollen, was reported to help relieve menopausal symptoms in about one-third of women in a preliminary study in Denmark.15 This result agrees with an earlier, controlled study that found melbrosia (amount not stated) was more effective than placebo for menopausal symptoms, including headache, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, and low vitality.16 According to animal studies, melbrosia does not work by causing estrogen-like effects in body tissues.17 Whether royal jelly alone might have similar effects on menopausal symptoms is unknown.
Royal jelly is available in liquid form (usually in glass vials), tablets, and capsules.
Royal jelly has been used in connection with the following condition (refer to it for complete information):
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Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary
studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit. For an herb, supported by traditional use but
minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal
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Because royal jelly is not an essential nutrient, deficiencies do not occur.
Royal jelly in the amount of 50–100 mg per day has been used in most of the studies on cholesterol lowering.
Allergic reactions are the most common side effect. Allergic reactions from oral intake of royal jelly can range from very mild (e.g., mild gastrointestinal upset) to more severe reactions, including asthma, anaphylaxis (shock), intestinal bleeding, and even death in people who are extremely allergic to bee products.18 19 20 People who are allergic to bee pollen, honey, or conifer and poplar trees should not use royal jelly orally. Topical use of royal jelly has been reported to cause skin irritations in some people.21
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with royal jelly.
1. Hanza SM, Aod El-Wahab SM, Shehata MM, Mohamed TR. Investigation of royal jelly Part I. Vitamin content of royal jelly and effect on hepatic vitamin levels in male and female rats. Egypt J Pharm Sci 1979;20:365–73.
2. Hove Sr, Dimick PS, Benton AW. Composition of freshly harvested and commercial royal jelly. J Apic Res 1985;24:52–61.
3. Bariliak IR, Berdyshev GD, Dugan AM. The antimutagenic action of apiculture products. Tsitol Genet 1996;30(6):48–55 [in Russian].
4. Vittek J. Effect of royal jelly on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans with atherosclerosis. Experientia 1995;51:927–35 [review].
5. Sver L, Orsolic N, Tadic Z, et al. A royal jelly as a new potential immunomodulator in rats and mice. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 1996;19:31–8.
6. Fujii A, Kobayashi S, Kuboyama N, et al. Augmentation of wound healing by royal jelly (RJ) in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 1990;53:331–7.
7. Vittek J. Effect of royal jelly on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans with atherosclerosis. Experientia 1995;51:927–35 [review].
8. Hammerl H, Pichler O. Zur therapie mit apifortyl. Medsche Klin 1960;45:2015–21 [in German].
9. Madar J, Maly E, Neubauer E, Moscovic F. Einfluss des bienenmuttervreies (gelee royale) auf den cholesterol-spiegel auf die toallipide im serum und auf die fibrinolitische aktivitat des plasmas der an atherosklerose leidenden alteren Menschen. Z Altersforsch 1965;18:103–8 [in German].
10. Sitar J, Cernochova Z. Treatment of angina pectoris with Vita-Apinol Spofa. Some metabolic effects of the drug. Vnitr Lek 1967;14:1798–805.
11. Hammerl H, Pichler O. Vorlaufiger bericht uber die behandlung auf den alternden Menschen unter besonderer berucksichtigung des cholesterin-stoffwechsels. In J Prohyl Med Soc Hyg 1958;2:69–71 [in German].
12. Pejcev P, Chadzijev V, Mikiforov N, et al. Results of the combined use of some bee products, honey, royal jelly and pollen to geriatric patients. Folia Med Plovdiv 1966;8:329–33.
13. Kaczor M, Koltec A, Matuszewski J. The effect of royal jelly on blood lipids in atheromatic patients. Polski Tygod Lek 1962;17:140–4.
14. Vittek J. Effect of royal jelly on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans with atherosclerosis. Experientia 1995;51:927–35 [review].
15. Kristoffersen K, Thomsen BW, Schacke E, Wagner HH. Use of natural medicines in women referred to specialists. Ugeskr Laeger 1997;159:294–6 [in Danish].
16. Szanto E, Gruber D, Sator M, et al. Placebo-controlled study of melbrosia in treatment of climacteric symptoms. Wien Med Wochenschr 1994;144:130–3 [in German].
17. Einer-Jensen N, Zhao J, Andersen KP, Kristoffersen K. Cimicifuga and Melbrosia lack oestrogenic effects in mice and rats. Maturitas 1996;25:149–53.
18. Thien FCK, Leung R, Baldo BA, et al. Asthma and anaphylaxis induced by royal jelly. Clin Exp Allergy 1996;26:216–22.
19. Leung R, Ho A, Chan J, et al. Royal jelly consumption and hypersensitivity in the community. Clin Exp Allergy 1997;27:333–6.
20. Yonei Y, Shibagaki K, Tsukada N, et al. Case report: haemorrhagic colitis associated with royal jelly intake. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1997;12:495–9.
21. Takahashi M, Matsuo I, Ohkido M. Contact dermatitis due to honeybee royal jelly. Contact Dermatitis 1983;9:452–5.
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires March 2005.