Royal jelly
Royal jelly may ease menopausal symptoms, but the evidence is thin: a 2026 meta-analysis found a benefit over placebo, yet that pooled result rests on only two small trials. It is not a harmless food supplement for everyone, because it can trigger asthma and anaphylaxis, particularly in people with other allergies. Nothing here shows it helps with blood sugar, liver function or inflammation markers such as CRP.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Menopausal symptomsCompare remedies for women’s health → | Limited | A 2026 systematic review included 6 studies (471 postmenopausal women); the pooled comparison with placebo covered just two studies and 312 women and favoured royal jelly (standardised mean difference 0.73, 95% CI 0.50–0.96, moderate-quality evidence). An uncontrolled Romanian study of 80 women found fewer hot flushes with 1,500 mg royal jelly added to a fermented soy supplement, but it had no placebo group and both arms improved. We read the abstracts, not the full trials.1,3 |
| Bone loss after menopause | Limited | In a 6-month double-blind trial of 72 women within 5 years of menopause, the placebo group lost bone density in the femur while the royal jelly group (dried capsules equivalent to 3,000 mg fresh) did not lose a significant amount. It is one small trial with surrogate outcomes; no fracture data.2 |
| Inflammation and oxidative stress markers | Limited | A meta-analysis of 6 trials found lower malondialdehyde and higher total antioxidant capacity, but no significant change in hs-CRP (−0.24, 95% CI −0.60 to 0.10). Heterogeneity was very high (I² above 97%) and the authors call for more trials. These are laboratory markers, not symptoms.4 |
| Blood sugar and liver enzymes | Limited | A meta-analysis of 10 randomised trials found no significant effect on liver enzymes or glycaemic measures overall. Fasting glucose fell by about 4.3 mg/dl in trials of 8 weeks or longer and in people with health conditions, a subgroup finding that needs confirmation.5 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Allergy to bee products, pollen or bee venom — cross-reactions and anaphylaxis reported
- Asthma or other allergies (atopy) — severe asthma attacks reported after use
- Taking warfarin — one case of raised INR and bleeding reported
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — no safety data in our sources
Known interactions
Questions people ask
Does royal jelly help with menopause symptoms?
Possibly. A 2026 meta-analysis found a benefit over placebo, but the pooled result came from only two studies of 312 women. The trials were small and short, so the true size of the effect is unknown.
Can royal jelly cause an allergic reaction?
Yes. Researchers documented asthma and anaphylaxis in seven people after they took royal jelly, and showed the reactions were IgE-mediated (a true allergy). Allergic reactions are the most common adverse events with bee products, especially in people who are atopic.
If I am allergic to bee stings, can I take royal jelly?
It is safest to assume not without medical advice. In the allergy study, 38% of sera from people allergic to bee venom reacted to royal jelly, though the reactions did not directly track venom sensitivity. IgE reactivity to royal jelly also appeared in 52% of people with other inhalant or food allergies.
Is royal jelly safe with warfarin?
Unknown. One published case report links royal jelly to a raised INR and bleeding in a man on warfarin. It is a single report, but anyone on an anticoagulant should ask their prescriber or pharmacist before starting it.
Sources (8)
- Systematic review Ferraz SD, Stangherlin L, Colonetti T, et al. Royal jelly for management of postmenopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Menopause. 2026.
- Randomised controlled trial Matsushita H, Shimizu S, Morita N, Watanabe K, Wakatsuki A. Effects of royal jelly on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled study. Climacteric. 2021.
- Observational study Balan A, Moga MA, Neculau AE, et al. Royal Jelly and Fermented Soy Extracts: A Holistic Approach to Menopausal Symptoms That Increase the Quality of Life in Pre- and Post-menopausal Women: An Observational Study. Nutrients. 2024.
- Meta-analysis Taheri S, Bahari H, Mirzavi F, et al. Effects of royal jelly consumption on inflammation and oxidative stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2025.
- Meta-analysis Bahari H, Taheri S, Rashidmayvan M, et al. The effect of Royal jelly on liver enzymes and glycemic indices: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2023.
- Clinical study Thien FC, Leung R, Baldo BA, Weiner JA, Plomley R, Czarny D. Asthma and anaphylaxis induced by royal jelly. Clin Exp Allergy. 1996.
- Case report Lee NJ, Fermo JD. Warfarin and royal jelly interaction. Pharmacotherapy. 2006.
- Systematic overview Rocha Filho LKA, Silva GI, Silva MS. Pharmacovigilance and toxicological risks associated with apitherapeutic products: a systematic overview. Arch Toxicol. 2026.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.