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The development of queen larvae and worker bee larvae is differentiated and significantly different in anatomical, morphological, and functional terms. This differential development is linked to the feeding regime. Young bees, aged 6-14 days, prepare jelly for larvae that will develop into worker bees, queens, and drones. They prepare two types of jelly: royal jelly, which is produced in the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands and is intended for feeding queen larvae, and bee jelly intended for larvae that will develop into worker bees and drones.


If larvae designated for worker bees are fed royal jelly, they develop into fully-fledged queens. Conversely, if larvae intended for a queen are fed jelly meant for worker bees, they develop into worker bees. When a worker bee is fed royal jelly, it quickly doubles in size, takes on the shape of a queen, and starts laying eggs, but these eggs are unfertilized and produce drones. Chemical analyses show that both types of jelly are similar in composition. They differ in the amount of pantothenic acid, biopterin, and neopterin, which are up to 10 times more present in royal jelly.


Royal jelly is a complex, still enigmatic, miraculous substance. Biochemical analysis has discovered microelements in jelly, such as Fe, S, Mg, Cu, Mn, K, Ca, Na, Co, N, Cr, and others. Royal jelly contains about 22 amino acids, including ribonucleic and deoxyribonucleic acid. In terms of vitamins, royal jelly contains higher amounts of B-complex vitamins compared to floral pollen, a smaller amount of vitamin C, and practically no vitamins E, A, and K. Royal jelly also contains many enzymes: invertase, catalase, amylase, cholinesterase, as well as acetylcholine and choline. It is known that royal jelly contains gamma globulin, which has antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitoxic properties. Royal jelly also has anticancer properties.


Experimental methods have shown that freshly extracted royal jelly, left in normal conditions exposed to light, heat, oxygen from the air, and other factors, loses its biological activity within 3 to 10 days. Fresh royal jelly stored in hermetically sealed glass bottles and kept in a freezer at -10℃ retains its full biological properties for up to 5 months. Dry lyophilized royal jelly stored at temperatures between 0 and 14℃ retains its biological properties for up to 5 years. Deep-frozen royal jelly at -20℃ maintains its quality for up to 7 years.


Pure royal jelly ferments and spoils quickly at temperatures above 10℃. Therefore, it is best to store it in pure honey in a cool and dark place. The mixture should be prepared with crystallized honey in a ratio of 1g of royal jelly to 150g of honey (as recommended by the XX International Congress of Beekeepers in Bucharest). The mixing should be done with a wooden spoon in a glass, enamel, or porcelain container. The mixture is taken on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals, with a plastic or wooden spoon, placed under the tongue to dissolve and be absorbed by the mucous membrane.


What is royal jelly used for?


Royal jelly is a substance secreted by honey bees with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. How royal jelly benefits human health isn't well understood. Small human studies have found royal jelly can help reduce cholesterol, blood sugar, PMS symptoms, menopause symptoms, and chemotherapy side effects.


Who Cannot take royal jelly?


Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Children: Royal jelly is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 6 months in children 5-16 years of age. Asthma or allergies: Don't use royal jelly if you have asthma or allergies to bee products. It could cause some serious reactions, even death.


Royal jelly benefits


Here are 10 healing benefits of royal jelly:


  1. It boosts the immune system, in general, and heals mucositis, in particular. Just like honey, it also improves asthma rates.
  2. Studies have shown a cholesterol and lipoprotein-lowering effect of royal jelly, as well as triglyceride-lowering and HDL-increasing, conferring a benefit on cardiovascular health. 
  3. It improves the blood’s glucose levels, as well as ulcerations related to diabetes.
  4. It improves anemia rates by slightly increasing the number of red blood cells.
  5. It increases testosterone levels in men who regularly consume it, as well as improving sperm quality. Royal jelly has also been shown to have a positive impact on the FSH/LH ratio, however, this effect is reversible upon cessation of supplementation. Royal jelly increases libido, too.
  6. Consumption of 3000mg of royal jelly daily has been linked to increased cognition in middle and older age and is protective against Alzheimer’s disease.
  7. It increases collagen and improves the skin’s appearance. For that reason, it is also used to heal wounds; it increases fibroblast migration, cells in connective tissue that produce collagen. Royal jelly has been suggested in suppressing skin pigmentation and hence is proposed as a candidate to inhibit melanogenesis, thus it could be developed as a cosmetics skincare product. Melanin synthesis reduction occurs via tyrosinase expression down-regulation.
  8. Due to its nutrient combination, royal jelly (combined with other bee products) has been shown to alleviate unpleasant premenstrual symptoms, such as irritability, weight fluctuations, and water retention.
  9. It eases menopausal symptoms. Preliminary research has shown that royal jelly protects against osteoporosis by decreasing bone resorption (anti-osteoclastic).
  10. Confer's antiproliferative effects on neuroblastoma cells, make it a possible anti-cancer superfood.


Safety



If a person has excessive itching or hives after taking royal jelly, they should consult a doctor.


Royal jelly is a natural remedy, and, therefore, it is not subject to regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Theree is no formal safety assessment of royal jelly by the FDA or any other regulatory body. As a result, the contents of royal jelly products may vary.

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source says that royal jelly can cause allergic reactions in some people. People with asthma or other allergies may have a higher risk of a reaction.


It is essential to consult a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur after taking royal jelly:

  • hives
  • excessive itching
  • wheezing or other breathing problems
  • digestive issues, such as abdominal pain or diarrhea
  • dizziness or confusion
  • nausea
  • vomiting


Royal jelly may also interact with certain medications, such as blood pressure drugs. It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking royal jelly to avoid any harmful interactions.


How to use it


Royal jelly can come in different forms. It is possible to take royal jelly orally or to apply it directly to the skin.

The production of fresh royal jelly may result in a gel-like substance, but other types of royal jelly are freeze-dried. It can also come in powder form within a pill or capsule, which may contain other filler ingredients.


While there are no formal guidelines regarding dosage, it is vital to start with very small amounts of royal jelly. People should stop using royal jelly immediately if they have an allergic reaction.


SIDE EFFECTS


Royal jelly is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth appropriately. A specific product containing a combination of royal jelly, bee pollen extract, and bee pollen plus pistol extract (Femal by Natumin Pharma) has been used safely for up to 2 months. Another combination product containing royal jelly and flower pollen (Melbrosia) has been used safely for up to 3 months. Royal jelly might cause serious allergic reactions including asthma, swelling of the throat, and death. Rarely, it might cause the colon to bleed, accompanied by stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.


Royal jelly is also POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin appropriately. However, it has caused inflammation and allergic rash when applied to the scalp.


PRECAUTIONS


Children: Royal jelly is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 6 months.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of using royal jelly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Asthma or allergies: Don't use royal jelly if you have asthma or allergies to bee products. It could cause some serious reactions, even death.

Inflamed skin (dermatitis): Royal jelly might make dermatitis worse.

Low blood pressure: Royal jelly might lower blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already low, taking royal jelly might make it drop too much.


DOSING


The appropriate dose of royal jelly depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for royal jelly. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist physician or other healthcare professional before using.


Royal jelly is a milk-like substance secreted by bees that provides nutrition to developing larvae as well as the queen bee.1 It's also known as Apilak or Queen Bee Jelly.


Made of proteins, sugar, and fatty acids, royal jelly is a nutritional supplement and a cosmetic agent.3 Some research suggests it may be helpful for the following:





Uses


Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.


Royal jelly is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic activity.5 However, human trials of royal jelly are sparse.

Here's a look at the latest evidence of royal jelly's benefits.


Cancer Care


Royal jelly may benefit cancer care, but treatment benefits remain unproven.5

Some studies suggest that royal jelly may limit the harm caused by powerful chemotherapy drugs. Royal jelly benefited oral mucositis, a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It was among the beneficial remedies identified by researchers for treating the following:

  • Mouth sores
  • Bleeding
  • Other symptoms6

However, further study is needed.


Diabetes


Royal jelly may help regulate blood sugar, but more research is needed.

Based on an evaluation of 18 clinical studies, researchers found only a minimal benefit to royal jelly use for lowering blood sugar. It was determined that the quality of evidence supporting the use of royal jelly in diabetes was low to very low.7

Another review concluded that royal jelly does not significantly improve fasting blood sugar levels or hemoglobin A1c, a marker of blood sugar control over time.


High Cholesterol


Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) is a concerning disorder linked to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart attack, and stroke.

In a small study, 36 postmenopausal females were given 150 milligrams (mg) of royal jelly daily. They experienced a 7.7% increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol, as well as a 4.1% decrease in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and a 3% drop in total cholesterol.


Similar results were seen in another study of 40 adults with slightly high cholesterol levels. After three months, LDL and total cholesterol levels were reduced in people who took 3,150 milligrams of royal jelly daily.3 Conversely, there were no changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, body weight, waist size, or body fat compared to the placebo group.


Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Menopause Symptoms


Some research suggests that royal jelly may help reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause.

In one study, 110 female university students with PMS were given either 1,000 milligrams of royal jelly or a placebo daily. After two menstrual cycles, females in the royal jelly group had more than a 50% reduction in their PMS symptom score, while females in the placebo group had less than a 5% decrease.


Another study of 200 postmenopausal females showed that 1,000 milligrams of royal jelly daily could decrease menopause symptoms.


Further research is needed to confirm the results and better determine the exact mechanism of action of royal jelly.


Additional Uses


Royal jelly has also been studied in clinical trials for the following indications:


More research is needed before royal jelly can be recommended for these conditions.



Dosage


Dietary supplements are not regulated like drugs in the United States, meaning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve them for safety and effectiveness before products are marketed. Choose a supplement tested by a trusted third party, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), ConsumerLab, or NSF.org, when possible. However, even if supplements are third-party tested, that doesn't mean they are necessarily safe for all or effective in general. Therefore, talking to your healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and checking in about potential interactions with other supplements or medications is essential.


Royal jelly has been used in clinical trials at doses of 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams daily, depending on the indication.

For example, 1,000 milligrams daily for eight weeks has been studied to help menopause symptoms.11 And 3,600 milligrams daily for two years have been used for people on hemodialysis.


Your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian can help you determine an appropriate dose.


Safety


  • Avoid royal jelly if you're allergic to it, its components (parts), or honey.
  • Seek medical attention if you have a severe allergic reaction (itching, hives, shortness of breath).


Side Effects


Royal jelly is generally considered safe and well-tolerated when used appropriately. However, consuming a supplement like royal jelly, or applying it to the skin, may cause potential side effects.


Royal jelly has been known to cause allergic reactions in some people, ranging from mild nasal symptoms to cardiovascular collapse and death. Royal jelly proteins can cause allergic reactions, typically occurring within minutes of using the supplement. They are more likely in people with asthma or atopic diseases like eczema.


Other side effects of royal jelly may include:


If you're having a severe allergic reaction or if any of your symptoms feel life-threatening, call 911 and get medical help right away.


Interactions


Royal jelly may interact with the following medications.

  • Chemotherapy drugs. The effectiveness of chemo may be enhanced or side effects reduced if these medicines are taken with royal jelly.
  • The blood-thinner warfarin. Bleeding risk may be increased.
  • Hormone therapies. Royal jelly may increase levels of estrogen and the hormone DHEA-S, interacting with some hormone treatments.
  • Diabetes medications. Effectiveness may be increased, or side effects like low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) could occur.

PRECAUTIONS


Do keep the following precautions in mind when using royal jelly:


  • Severe allergic reaction: Avoid royal jelly if you have a known allergy to it or its ingredients. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for a complete list of the ingredients if you're unsure.
  • Pregnancy: Royal jelly is not recommended during pregnancy.
  • Breastfeeding: Royal jelly is not recommended during breastfeeding.
  • Children: Royal jelly is not recommended for use in children.
  • Chronic conditions: People with asthma and eczema should be cautious as they are at increased risk of allergic reactions to royal jelly.



Looking for a high-quality royal jelly? Here is a list of good ones:


Stakich Fresh Royal Jelly


Greenbow Organic Fresh Royal Jelly


Carlyle Royal Jelly Capsule


FWS Royal Jelly Organic - Food of The Emperors


Manuka Health Royal Jelly Capsules