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Royal Jelly

Royal jelly is a protein- and fat-rich substance that worker bees produce to feed queen bee larvae. People mostly look at it for metabolic health, and blood glucose improved in a small group of 71 people, though the evidence is limited. Blood pressure and a marker of inflammation called CRP showed no clear difference, and the evidence there is very limited, so the research is still thin.

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
5
Outcomes
28
Graded outcomes
0022

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

5 conditions

Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Royal Jelly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect71 people
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect56 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study71 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)1 study56 people

Studies that measured testosterone

EstrogenChanges; see studies56 people
Glycemic ControlImproves (the measure goes up)56 people
HbA1cImproves (the measure goes down)56 people
Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies15 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)71 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)15 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)71 people
WeightImproves (the measure goes down)56 people

General Cardiovascular Health

General Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Royal Jelly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect15 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study15 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies15 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)15 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)15 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)15 people

Menopause

  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL): improves
  • Irritability: improves
Menopause: outcomes studied for Royal Jelly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

No effect

NoneNo effect55 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study55 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

IrritabilityImproves (the measure goes down)1 study55 people
Cell Adhesion FactorsImproves (the measure goes down)55 people
Depression SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)55 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)55 people
Menopausal SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)55 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)55 people

Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever): outcomes studied for Royal Jelly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Allergy SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study64 people

Studies that measured allergy symptoms

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

  • PMS Symptoms: improves
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): outcomes studied for Royal Jelly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
PMS SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study110 people

Key findings

  • Blood glucoseMetabolic HealthImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Blood PressureMetabolic Health
  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Menopause

Shop Royal Jelly

Third-party tested Royal Jelly products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

5 studies from PubMed

  1. Effect of royal jelly ingestion for six months on healthy volunteersNutr J · PMID 22995464
  2. Royal jelly supplementation improves lipoprotein metabolism in humansJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol · PMID 17934240
  3. Effects of an herbal medication containing bee products on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk markers: results of a pilot open-uncontrolled trialMedGenMed · PMID 15775873
  4. Double-blind randomized trial of the effect of Bidro on hay fever in childrenUgeskr Laeger · PMID 16219189
  5. Effect of Royal Jelly on premenstrual syndrome among Iranian medical sciences students: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled studyComplement Ther Med · PMID 25146061