Research

Royal Jelly

32 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

3
Meta-analyses
2
Systematic reviews
24
RCTs
3
Other studies
Meta-analyses (9%)
Systematic reviews (6%)
RCTs (75%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2026·Menopause (New York, N.Y.)·Sarah Dagostin Ferraz, Luana Stangherlin, Tamy Colonetti, et al

Royal jelly for management of postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 471Womens Health Joint Bone Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effects of royal jelly supplementation on postmenopausal symptoms in women. RJ supplementation significantly improved postmenopausal symptoms compared with placebo, suggesting it may be a promising nonhormone option for managing menopausal symptoms and supporting bone and genitourinary health.

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2024·Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences·Farzaneh Aavani, Roja Rahimi, Pouya Goleij, et al

Royal jelly and its hormonal effects in breast cancer: a literature review.

Systematic reviewWomens Health

This literature review examines the hormonal effects of royal jelly in breast cancer. It discusses how royal jelly, containing 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, may interact with estrogen receptors and potentially reduce breast cancer risk by decreasing estrogen levels and increasing progesterone. The review highlights the need for future clinical studies to confirm safe dosing as an adjuvant therapy.

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2023·Complementary therapies in medicine·Hossein Bahari, Shaghayegh Taheri, Mohammad Rashidmayvan, et al

The effect of Royal jelly on liver enzymes and glycemic indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Meta-analysisNutrition

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 RCTs assessing the effect of royal jelly on liver enzymes and glycemic indices. Overall, royal jelly did not significantly affect liver function or glycemic profile, but a significant reduction in serum FPG was observed in trials with intervention duration ≥ 8 weeks and in non-healthy populations.

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2019·Complementary therapies in medicine·Sepideh Mahboobi, Sadegh Jafarnejad, Mohammad Hassan Eftekhari

Royal jelly does not improve markers of glycemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Meta-analysisn = 205Nutrition -

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating the effects of royal jelly ingestion on glycemic markers compared with placebo. The analysis included 205 participants for FPG and 130 participants for HbA1c, revealing no statistically significant effects of royal jelly on glycemic markers.

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2025·Irish journal of medical science·Zahra Eslamifar, Farzaneh Manucheri, Saeed Ghanbari, et al

Impact of royal jelly consumption on oxidative stress, anti-oxidant markers and physical activities of patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

RCTn = 61Physical Performance Inflammation Longevity

RCT of 61 RRMS patients comparing 500 mg daily royal jelly to placebo for 45 days. The royal jelly group showed significant reductions in EDSS scores and MDA levels, increased SOD and CAT activity, and improvements in fatigue and quality of life measures.

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2023·Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine·Hamidreza Pourfard, Ali Ahmadi, Zahra Habibi, et al

The Effect of Tang Forte (Royal Jelly) Capsule on Hypoglycemia and Clinical Course in COVID-19 Patients Under Corticosteroid Therapy.

RCTn = 72Inflammation -Immunity -Nutrition -

This clinical trial investigated the effect of royal jelly capsules on blood sugar and the clinical course of Covid-19 in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy. 72 Covid-19 patients were randomized into treatment and placebo groups. The study found no significant differences in blood sugar levels, Spo2 levels, or hospital stay length between groups, but noted significant improvements in headache, cough, and dyspnea in the intervention group.

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2021·Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis·Koichiro Fujisue, Eiichiro Yamamoto, Daisuke Sueta, et al

A Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison Study of Royal Jelly to Augment Vascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Volunteers.

RCTn = 100Heart Health

RCT of 100 healthy volunteers comparing royal jelly 690 mg to placebo daily for 4 weeks. Royal jelly significantly improved vascular endothelial function and liver enzyme levels, suggesting potential antiatherogenic and liver health benefits.

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2020·Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·H Matsushita, S Shimizu, N Morita, et al

Effects of royal jelly on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled study.

RCTn = 72Joint Bone Health

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of royal jelly supplementation on bone metabolism in 72 postmenopausal women. The study found that while the placebo group experienced significant loss of bone mineral density and deterioration in hip structural analysis parameters, the royal jelly group did not show significant differences in these parameters, suggesting potential benefits of royal jelly in ameliorating decreases in femoral BMD and strength.

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2019·Complementary therapies in clinical practice·Seyedeh Nazanin Sharif, Fatemeh Darsareh

Effect of royal jelly on menopausal symptoms: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

RCTn = 200Womens Health

Double-blind randomized clinical trial in Bandar Abbas, Iran, with 200 postmenopausal women receiving 1000 mg of royal jelly or placebo daily for eight weeks. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in menopausal symptoms compared to the control group.

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2019·Complementary therapies in medicine·Vahid Maleki, Hamed Jafari-Vayghan, Sevda Saleh-Ghadimi, et al

Effects of Royal jelly on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review.

Systematic reviewNutrition Inflammation Heart Health

Systematic review of clinical trials and animal studies on the effects of royal jelly on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus. Royal jelly supplementation showed significant reductions in fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and improvements in lipid profiles and oxidative stress indicators.

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2025·Toxins·Julie Ann Kemp, Marianna Mendonça, Paloma Chrispim, et al

Apitherapy with Royal Jelly and Green Propolis EPP-AFImproves Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

RCTn = 38Heart Health Inflammation

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effect of royal jelly plus green propolis supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients. The treated group showed significant reductions in plasma IL-6 and total cholesterol levels after 2 months, suggesting potential benefits for heart health and inflammation.

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2025·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·Roya Askari, Nazanin Rabani, Hamid Marefati, et al

Aerobic-Resistance Training with Royal Jelly Supplementation Has a Synergistic Effect on Paraoxonase 1 Changes and Liver Function in Women with MASLD.

RCTn = 23Heart Health

This semi-experimental study investigated the effects of aerobic-resistance training combined with royal jelly supplementation on paraoxonase 1, oxidized LDL, liver function, and lipid profile in postmenopausal women with MASLD. The exercise + supplement group showed significant improvements in PON1, HDL, and reductions in oxLDL, TC, TG, LDL, ALT, and AST compared to the exercise + placebo group.

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2022·Journal of cosmetic dermatology·Yuka Maeda, Chizuru Fujikura, Takashi Asama, et al

Effect of facial application of essence containing royal jelly extract on stratum corneum moisture content: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study.

RCTn = 35Skin Hair Health

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study with 35 healthy Japanese men and women evaluated the moisturizing effects of royal jelly extract on the skin. The application of essence containing royal jelly extract significantly increased the stratum corneum water content compared to placebo, confirming its moisturizing function.

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2022·Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition·Aleksandr N Ovchinnikov, Antonio Paoli, Vladislav V Seleznev, et al

Royal jelly plus coenzyme Q10 supplementation improves high-intensity interval exercise performance via changes in plasmatic and salivary biomarkers of oxidative stress and muscle damage in swimmers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

RCTn = 20Physical Performance Inflammation

RCT of 20 high-level swimmers receiving royal jelly and coenzyme Q10 supplementation for 10 days. The RJQ group showed significant improvements in high-intensity interval exercise performance and reductions in exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage compared to placebo.

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2018·Complementary therapies in medicine·Siti Zubaidah Ab Wahab, Nik Hazlina Nik Hussain, Rahimah Zakaria, et al

Long-term effects of honey on cardiovascular parameters and anthropometric measurements of postmenopausal women.

RCTn = 100Heart Health Nutrition

RCT comparing 20g/day of Tualang Honey versus Honey Cocktail in postmenopausal women over 12 months. Tualang Honey significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood sugar, while Honey Cocktail maintained body mass index.

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2018·European journal of dermatology : EJD·Chisa Nakashima, Atsushi Otsuka, Judith A Seidel, et al

The effect of oral royal jelly administration on skin barrier function: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

RCTSkin Hair Health

The study investigates the effect of oral royal jelly administration on skin barrier function using a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial design.

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2017·Scientific reports·Ge Meng, Honglei Wang, Yinghua Pei, et al

Effects of protease-treated royal jelly on muscle strength in elderly nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study.

RCTn = 163Physical Performance -

RCT of protease-treated royal jelly (pRJ) on muscle strength in 163 elderly nursing home residents. The study found that pRJ might attenuate the progression of decrease in muscle strength, but did not significantly improve physical performance.

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2016·Canadian journal of diabetes·Basemeh Khoshpey, Shima Djazayeri, Fatemehsadat Amiri, et al

Effect of Royal Jelly Intake on Serum Glucose, Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and ApoB/ApoA-I Ratios in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study.

RCTn = 50Nutrition

RCT of 50 patients with type 2 diabetes comparing 1000 mg royal jelly intake to placebo 3 times a day for 8 weeks. Royal jelly intake decreased serum glucose concentrations, increased ApoA-I concentrations, and decreased ApoB/ApoA-I ratios compared to placebo.

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2014·Complementary therapies in medicine·Simin Taavoni, Fatemeh Barkhordari, Ashrafeddin Goushegir, et al

Effect of Royal Jelly on premenstrual syndrome among Iranian medical sciences students: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study.

RCTn = 110Womens Health

Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted among 110 Iranian medical sciences students with PMS. Participants in the intervention group took 1000 mg Royal Jelly capsules daily for two menstrual cycles. The study found that Royal Jelly significantly reduced PMS scores compared to placebo.

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2014·Holistic nursing practice·Ozden Erdem, Zeynep Güngörmüş

The effect of royal jelly on oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

RCTn = 103Inflammation

RCT evaluating the effect of royal jelly on oral mucositis in 103 patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The royal jelly group showed significantly shorter resolution time of oral mucositis compared to the control group, indicating improved signs and symptoms.

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2014·Chinese journal of integrative medicine·Samira Pourmoradian, Reza Mahdavi, Majid Mobasseri, et al

Effects of royal jelly supplementation on glycemic control and oxidative stress factors in type 2 diabetic female: a randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 50Inflammation Nutrition

RCT of 50 female volunteers with type 2 diabetes comparing 1,000 mg royal jelly supplementation to placebo for 8 weeks. Royal jelly supplementation significantly improved glycemic control indices and oxidative stress factors, suggesting potential benefits in controlling diabetes outcomes.

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2012·Nutrition journal·Hiroyuki Morita, Takahide Ikeda, Kazuo Kajita, et al

Effect of royal jelly ingestion for six months on healthy volunteers.

RCTn = 61Mental Clarity Hormone Health Nutrition

RCT of 61 healthy volunteers aged 42-83 years comparing 3000 mg royal jelly ingestion to placebo for 6 months. Royal jelly improved erythropoiesis, glucose tolerance, and mental health, with observed acceleration of conversion from DHEA-S to testosterone.

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2009·Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)·Karsten Münstedt, Michael Henschel, Annette Hauenschild, et al

Royal jelly increases high density lipoprotein levels but in older patients only.

RCTHeart Health

The study investigates the effect of royal jelly on high density lipoprotein levels, finding an increase in older patients only.

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2008·International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics·Ahmed T Abdelhafiz, Jehan A Muhamad

Midcycle pericoital intravaginal bee honey and royal jelly for male factor infertility.

RCTn = 99Sexual Health

Crossover study of 99 couples with asthenozoospermia comparing midcycle pericoital intravaginal applications of bee honey and royal jelly (H/RJ) to standard intrauterine insemination (IUI). The H/RJ group had a higher pregnancy rate per cycle compared to the IUI group, with the difference being statistically significant.

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2017·PloS one·Sachiko Inoue, Motoko Kawashima, Ryuji Hisamura, et al

Clinical Evaluation of a Royal Jelly Supplementation for the Restoration of Dry Eye: A Prospective Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study and an Experimental Mouse Model.

RCTn = 43

Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examining the effects of royal jelly on dry eye in 43 Japanese patients. Royal jelly significantly increased tear volume, especially in patients with low baseline Schirmer values, with no adverse events reported.

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2017·Pharmaceutical biology·Hui-Fang Chiu, Bo-Kai Chen, Yan-Ying Lu, et al

Hypocholesterolemic efficacy of royal jelly in healthy mild hypercholesterolemic adults.

RCTn = 40Heart Health Hormone Health

RCT examining the hypolipidemic effect of royal jelly in 40 mildly hypercholesterolemic adults. Royal jelly significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels and improved DHEA-S hormone levels without causing hepatic or renal damage.

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2016·The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male·Bogdan Pajovic, Nemanja Radojevic, Antonio Dimitrovski, et al

The therapeutic potential of royal jelly in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Comparison with contemporary literature.

RCTn = 40Mens Health

RCT of 40 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia administered 38mg of royal jelly over three months. The study found royal jelly reduced PSA scores and improved IPSS values, indicating potential benefits for men's health, though it did not significantly affect PVR or prostate volume.

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2013·International wound journal·Mansour Siavash, Saeideh Shokri, Sepehr Haghighi, et al

The efficacy of topical royal jelly on healing of diabetic foot ulcers: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

RCTn = 25

Double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of 5% topical royal jelly on healing diabetic foot ulcers in 25 diabetic patients. No significant difference in healing parameters was observed between the royal jelly and placebo groups.

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2007·Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology·Hang Guo, Ai Saiga, Mikako Sato, et al

Royal jelly supplementation improves lipoprotein metabolism in humans.

RCTn = 15

RCT examining the effects of royal jelly supplementation on serum lipoprotein metabolism in humans. The RJ group showed significant decreases in serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. Small very-low-density lipoprotein levels were also decreased after RJ intake.

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2019·Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry·N. Iegaki, Yukio Narita, Noriko Hattori, et al

Royal jelly reduces depression-like behavior through possible effects on adrenal steroidogenesis in a murine model of unpredictable chronic mild stress

Animal studyMood Stress

Animal study investigating the effects of royal jelly on depression-like behavior in a murine model of unpredictable chronic mild stress. Royal jelly inhibited stress-induced increases in immobility time, suggesting an antidepressant effect through regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis.

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2013·Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry·Tatsuya Moriyama, Miyako Yanagihara, Erika Yano, et al

Hypoallergenicity and immunological characterization of enzyme-treated royal jelly from Apis mellifera.

In vitroImmunity

The study evaluated the hypoallergenicity of alkaline protease-treated royal jelly (RJ) in vitro and in vivo. The treated RJ showed significantly reduced IgE-binding capacity in vitro and did not evoke an allergenic response in the majority of RJ-sensitive patients in an in vivo skin-prick test.

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2021·Drug metabolism and personalized therapy·Iman Alhilo, Samir Alhilo, Buthaina Alkhatib, et al

Hyperthyroidism treatment by alternative therapies based on cupping and dietary-herbal supplementation: a case report.

Case report

Case report of a 29-year-old female with hyperthyroidism treated with dietary-herbal supplementation including royal jelly, green barley grass, and Taraxaf, along with wet cupping. TSH values increased and urticaria disappeared after two months of alternative therapy.

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