On Olympus there was ambrosia, the food of the gods. In the hives, there is also something reserved for the elite. Royal jelly is a nutrient produced by worker bees exclusively to feed the larvae and the queen bee. Rich in proteins, vitamins (like B5 and B6), minerals and antioxidants, it is credited with beneficial properties for human health, such as strengthening the immune system, improving the skin, increasing energy and anti-inflammatory effects. However, do these alleged benefits justify the high prices achieved by this food?
How to get royal jelly
Harvesting is done by manually extracting the royal jelly from the queen cells, where it accumulates in small quantities. This process is laborious and requires great caution so as not to harm the bees or the hive.
Royal jelly is expensive, mainly because its production is limited, with each hive producing only a few grams per year. Collection is manual and laborious. To top it all off, royal jelly is perishable and requires proper handling and storage to maintain its freshness and effectiveness.
Pure royal jelly can reach prices of up to 1,000 euros per kilo, although it must be taken into account that it is bought in small containers, of around 20 or 30 grams, for around 20 euros. In other cases, royal jelly is sold in capsules or ampoules containing a few milligrams of royal jelly, usually oil-based and supplemented with vitamins or other compounds like echinacea. In comparison, you can get a kilo of high quality raw honey for around 20 euros.
What does royal jelly contain that honey does not?
Honey is 80% sugar, but contains small amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Royal jelly is also a complex substance, but it is mainly made up of water, which makes up between 60 and 70% of its weight. It also contains sugars, mainly glucose and fructose, which represent between 10 and 16% of its composition, and lipids, notably fatty acids, which represent approximately 3 to 6% of its composition.
Proteins make up between 12 and 15%, highlighting the unique proteins known as main proteins in royal jelly (MRJP). These proteins and their derived peptides (protein fragments) have anti-inflammatory, immune system modulator, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypertension protective, cholesterol regulating, growth promoting, wound healing and neuroprotective activities.
Royal jelly is rich in B complex vitamins, such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid (particularly abundant), pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid and cobalamin, in addition to containing vitamin C in smaller quantities. Minerals present include iron, calcium, silicon, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper and manganese.
However, it is not worth relying on royal jelly as a source of vitamins and minerals. The problem is that the concentration of these micronutrients is very low and royal jelly is consumed in very small quantities. One teaspoon of royal jelly, or about 5 grams, contains only 2 milligrams of vitamin B5, the most abundant in royal jelly, but the recommended daily amount is more than double that, at 5 milligrams. Other vitamins appear in even more insignificant quantities compared to daily requirements.
Additionally, royal jelly contains antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids, phenols, and specific fatty acids, including 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The good news is that antioxidants are needed in very small amounts, much less than the major vitamins or minerals.
Is royal jelly so good for your health?
Having a spoonful of royal jelly with your yogurt in the morning probably won’t hurt, but is there any benefit given its high price?
In multiple laboratory and animal studies, the specific amino acids, fatty acids, and phenolic compounds found in royal jelly appear to have powerful antioxidant effects. Other studies in vitro show reduced levels of inflammation when immune cells are treated with royal jelly. But there are almost no studies on humans and the evidence is anecdotal.
The famous proteins in royal jelly could help regulate blood cholesterol levels. In a 12-week study of rabbits treated with royal jelly, their total and LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by up to 28% and 23%, respectively. However, human studies have mostly involved few participants and inconclusive results.
Royal jelly is also touted as an aid in wound healing. Here again, studies carried out on diabetic patients suffering from wounds, treated with royal jelly, have not seen any improvement. Something similar happens with studies on the effects on blood pressure, blood sugar regulation, skin regeneration, menopausal symptoms, cancer or memory. Studies in vitro They show modest results and are not conclusive with people.
If we exclude the specific proteins of royal jelly, the rest of its components can be easily obtained from fruits, vegetables and other foods. We might even find them in honey, which contains many of these vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, although, again, in trace amounts. The health benefits of royal jelly may be very small compared to a healthy diet and regular physical activity, especially considering its high price.
