Royal Jelly: Composition and Health Properties
Royal jelly is a secretion produced by worker honeybees' hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands, serving as nutrition for bee larvae and queen bees, with limited evidence supporting its therapeutic use in humans despite various bioactive compounds. 1, 2, 3
Composition
Royal jelly is a complex mixture containing:
- Proteins and peptides: Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), antibacterial proteins, and bioactive peptides (apisimin, royalisin, royalactin, defensin-1, jelleins) 3
- Fatty acids: Most notably 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a key biomarker for quality assessment 4, 5
- Carbohydrates: Primarily fructose, glucose, and sucrose 4
- Other components: Vitamins, minerals, hormones, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids 3, 5
The composition varies significantly based on:
- Bee feeding source (sugar syrup vs. honey) 4
- Harvesting conditions
- Storage methods
- Geographic origin
Potential Health Applications
While royal jelly has been studied for various health effects, clinical evidence for most applications remains limited:
Wound Healing
- Not recommended for diabetic foot ulcers: Strong evidence against using royal jelly for wound healing in diabetes-related foot ulcers. The only blinded study found no difference in healing over 12 weeks compared to placebo. 6
Allergic Potential
- Royal jelly is identified as a potential allergen that can cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals 6
Other Proposed Applications
Research suggests potential effects in the following areas, though clinical evidence remains preliminary:
- Metabolic effects: Some studies suggest antihypercholesterolemic and antidiabetic properties 3, 5
- Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects: May influence immune function 2, 3
- Antioxidant properties: Contains compounds with free radical scavenging ability 2, 3
- Antimicrobial activity: Contains antibacterial proteins and peptides 3
Quality and Standardization Challenges
Quality assessment of royal jelly typically includes:
- 10-HDA content (marker of authenticity)
- Moisture content
- Protein levels
- Carbohydrate composition
- Stable carbon isotope ratio (to detect adulteration) 4, 5
Safety Considerations
- Allergic reactions: Royal jelly can cause allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with other bee product allergies 6
- Limited regulation: As a natural product, royal jelly supplements are not subject to the same FDA efficacy and safety standards as pharmaceuticals 6
- Variable composition: Lack of standardization means product quality and bioactive compound content can vary significantly 5
Clinical Perspective
Despite traditional use and preliminary research suggesting various health benefits, current clinical evidence does not strongly support royal jelly for specific medical conditions. The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot specifically recommends against using royal jelly for diabetic foot ulcer healing due to low certainty of evidence 6.
When evaluating royal jelly products, healthcare providers should consider:
- The lack of standardization across products
- Potential for allergic reactions
- Limited high-quality clinical trials supporting efficacy
- Possible interactions with medications