This much-hyped bee byproduct has one possible health benefit and many unproven ones

If honeybees bees could talk, you’d probably hear a lot of cheers of, “All hail the queen!” Each beehive typically has hundreds of drones and thousands of worker bees — but there’s only one queen bee.

And what does the queen eat? The fanciest food that the beehive has to offer of course: A substance known as royal jelly. It’s made up of water, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and simple carbohydrates — and some people claim that taking royal jelly supplements can benefit human health, too. But is there any truth to the claim?

What is royal jelly?

“Royal jelly is a milky-white, gelatinous substance that comes from secretions made by worker bees,” explains wellness and preventive medicine specialist Robert Saper, MD, MPH. “It’s very rich in nutrients, and it gets its name from the fact that it’s used to feed the queen bee.”

It’s a bee byproduct, meaning that it’s made by honeybees, but it’s not the same thing as honey or other bee byproducts like bee pollen and propolis. Similar to those products, though, it’s also marketed as an all-natural supplement. You may find royal jelly sold in forms like:

  • Frozen jelly.
  • Powder.
  • Capsules (pills).

Are there benefits of royal jelly?

If you listen to TikTokkers, you might believe that royal jelly can treat ... well, everything. And it’s true that it’s been studied for its possible effects on a variety of conditions, from Alzheimer’s to wound healing and quite a few in between.

But there’s only one condition with some evidence to show it may be helpful: vaginal dryness from menopause.

“There was one well-designed study, done in Iran, that was double-blinded and placebo-controlled, studying 200 patients,” Dr. Saper explains. “They were treated with only royal jelly for eight weeks and showed some improvement in menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness.”

Evidence shows that some compounds in royal jelly are phytoestrogens, meaning they have estrogen-like effects in the body.

“That could be the mechanism for this change, if indeed it’s true,” he continues. “However, this study must be replicated by other researchers with a standardized product and larger numbers before we can recommend it.”

It’s also important to note that there’s no real need to turn to royal jelly as a treatment for vaginal dryness, as it’s a condition with a variety of known treatments that have been proven safe and effective. Options include:

  • Prescription creams, rings and pills.
  • Vaginal suppositories.
  • Vaginal moisturizers.
  • Vaginal lubricants.

Studies continue to look at whether royal jelly can ease other symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and postmenopausal headaches, but currently, there’s not enough evidence to say for certain.

What else is royal jelly being studied for?

Royal jelly has been studied for its possible effect on conditions like:

“Those studies were negative, meaning that they did not show effectiveness,” Dr. Saper clarifies, “so royal jelly is probably ineffective for those conditions.”

And that’s not all. Even more studies have looked at whether royal jelly could play a role in treating or managing conditions like:

  • Cognitive impairment.
  • Dry eyes.
  • Heart disease.
  • Infertility.
  • Obesity.
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Wound healing.

“On these topics, there’s really no evidence available either way to make any conclusions,” he adds. “That doesn’t mean that royal jelly is ineffective, just that there’s currently an inadequate amount of information.”

Potential risks and side effects of royal jelly

Taking royal jelly isn’t without risks. There are some possible dangers and side effects to know about before you try it, like that it:

  • Can cause allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe, especially in people with health conditions like bee allergies, environmental allergies, asthma and eczema.
  • Can cause other unpleasant side effects, including an upset stomach.
  • Can interact negatively with some medications, including warfarin.

Finally, as with any supplement, there’s also no standardization or regulation process to guarantee the ingredients, dosage or overall safety of royal jelly that you might buy.

Dr. Saper explains more about each of these concerns.

Can cause allergic reactions, especially in people with certain conditions

All bee byproducts are associated with some risk of allergic reactions, and royal jelly is no exception. It’s been linked to the possibility of:

You’re at higher risk for these reactions if you have certain health conditions, including:

“Studies show that using royal jelly can cause flare-ups of all of these conditions,” Dr. Saper warns.

Can cause other unpleasant side effects

In addition to allergic reactions, royal jelly has also been associated with other side effects, like:

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Cough.
  • Bloody stool.
  • Upset stomach.

Can interact negatively with some medications

Just because a supplement is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe. In fact, many supplements can affect other medications’ ability to do their jobs, which is why you should always check with your healthcare provider before adding any new pills or powders to your repertoire.

Don’t take royal jelly if you’re also taking one of these medicines:

  • Antihypertensives: If you take medication to lower your blood pressure, you shouldn’t take royal jelly. It can cause your blood pressure to drop.
  • Diabetes medications: Taking royal jelly can cause your blood sugar to drop too low, known as hypoglycemia.
  • Hormone therapy: Royal jelly can increase your estrogen levels, which can affect hormonal medications.
  • Warfarin: This medication helps prevent and treat blood clots, but taking royal jelly with it can increase your risk of bleeding and bruising.

No standardization or regulation process

In the United States, there’s no regulatory body that oversees the supplement industry the way the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does for food products and medications. That’s important because it means that when you buy vitamins and supplements, there’s no guarantee of product ingredients, dosage or overall safety.

Should you try royal jelly?

Any time you’re considering supplements, Dr. Saper says that it’s important to first take pause and check in with yourself.

“Take a step back and ask yourself and your healthcare professional: Is there scientific evidence for this product’s safety and effectiveness?” he advises. “What condition do you want to take it for, and are there already good existing treatments for that condition?”

In the case of royal jelly, it may be able to ease some symptoms of menopause, like vaginal dryness, but it can also bring serious risks. And again, importantly, there are many other proven, effective ways to find relief from menopause symptoms, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, lifestyle modifications and dietary changes.

If your menopause symptoms are bothering you, don’t start with bee byproducts or other supplements that claim to be able to help. Instead, make an appointment to talk to your healthcare provider and ask what options are available.