Key Takeaway
Across human and animal studies, royal jelly supplementation improved fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and lipid profile in diabetes mellitus, though human RCTs are still limited in size.
Summary
Systematic review synthesizing evidence from randomized clinical trials and experimental studies on the effects of royal jelly on glycemic control, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus. The authors searched major databases through 2018 and included studies in both diabetic humans and animal models.
Across included trials, royal jelly supplementation was associated with substantial improvements in triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, and Apo-A1, along with significant reductions in HbA1c and increases in insulin concentration. Fasting blood glucose was reduced in several human RCTs, most notably at doses of 1-3 g/day over 8 weeks.
The authors concluded that royal jelly may improve glycemic status, lipid profile, and oxidative stress markers in diabetes mellitus. However, they emphasized that the number and size of human RCTs remain limited, quality is mixed, and larger, longer trials are needed before royal jelly can be formally recommended as an adjunct for diabetes management.