Royal Jelly and Cholesterol Control

Elevated cholesterol levels are no joke but neither are popular drugs like Lipitor, which have numerous undesirable side effects.  Is royal jelly a valid, safe option for lowering LDL?

by Angela Ysseldyk, Nutritionist and Beekeeper's Daughter

If your doctor is instructing you to get your cholesterol levels down, it now appears that Royal Jelly is a safer, equally effective, natural option to the many pharmaceutical drugs that are on the market.   Drugs that, it should be mentioned, have a tremendous number of side effects.  Lipitor, the most common and best selling cholesterol drug in the world, lists these side effects on their web site as common:  

Lipitor Side Effects:

• diarrhea
• upset stomach, 
• muscle and joint pain
• changes in some blood tests

If the Hippocratic oath that medical doctors take is "to do no harm," then the medical system has failed miserably.

Fortunately, natural options that 'do no harm' are coming to the forefront and are now validated by researchers.  In one study, a group of researchers in Japan decided to examine the effects of Royal Jelly on blood cholesterol levels in 15 human volunteers.

They gave half the volunteers 6 grams of Royal Jelly per day for 4 weeks. Those taking the Royal Jelly saw their total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) decreased significantly compared with those who didn't get the RJ. HDL (the good cholesterol) levels didn't change in either group, nor did triglyceride levels. 

Based on this study, it appears that Royal Jelly, at a relatively high dose of 6 grams per day helps to lower 'bad cholesterol' and total cholesterol while not harming good cholesterol levels. The scientists suggested that royal jelly does this by lowering Very Low Density Lipoproteins.   These are produced in the liver and released into the bloodstream to supply body tissues with a type of fat (triglycerides).   High levels of VLDL cholesterol have been associated with the development of plaque deposits on artery walls, which narrow the passage and restrict blood flow.

Most would agree that taking 6 grams of royal jelly per day is both inconvenient and expensive.   Could a lesser dose be equally effective?   Let's find out.

Human Study Shows Lowered Cholesterol

In a second study, researchers examined the effects of royal jelly on cholesterol but in a much smaller dose, 3150 mg's per day or roughly half of what was used in the first study. 

Forty subjects with mildly elevated cholesterol levels (180-200 mg/dL) were randomly selected and divided into two groups as experimental or placebo.   They were instructed to take 3150 mg of Royal Jelly or placebo per day for three months with one month of follow-up without any supplementation.

Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels were reduced significantly after administration of Royal Jelly. Triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels were not considerably altered.

In what is likely the mechanism of action, the researchers noted something very interesting.  They found that 3 months of royal jelly supplementation considerably improved DHEA levels, which they suggested is what lead to the reduction in LDL levels and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Contrary to drugs like Lipitor, royal jelly caused no liver or kidney damage during the study.

Royal Jelly Drops Cholesterol by 6.7%

In your body, there are two types of cholesterol: low density lipids (LDL) and high density lipids (HDL). Your body uses these fat-like substances to create hormones, vitamin D and the digestive enzymes that help you break down food. Your body needs both of these to function. They're created in the liver.

However, when LDL cholesterol levels get too high, it can be bad for your health. This is because LDL cholesterol can narrow and stiffen your arteries, making you more vulnerable to circulatory problems and heart disease. 

There are a number of foods that can help reduce your LDL cholesterol levels while maintaining high levels of HDL cholesterol. These include whole grains like oats and barley, leafy greens, avocado, eggplant and nuts.

The royal jelly study mentioned above indicated that royal jelly can also be a powerful tool for keeping cholesterol levels in check. In the study, the participants who took royal jelly each day saw their total cholesterol levels drop by around 6.7%. When paired with the diet choices above, this can help you keep cholesterol levels in line. As a result, you can enjoy better heart health and better energy levels, as well.

What Does This Mean For You?

Two studies done in humans (not animals) is pretty strong validation that royal jelly is a legitimate, natural alternative to common cholesterol drugs. 

It is important to note that the participants in this study consumed 3 grams of royal jelly per day.  While this isn't a huge amount of royal jelly, if you are going to use royal jelly to lower your cholesterol levels, I strongly suggest you begin by taking lower doses.   While side effects are rare, they are possible with such a strong substance.   Begin by taking on 1 gram per day and slowly increasing the dose over the span of several weeks provided you tolerate it well.   One gram per day is equal to one capsule of our 1000 mg royal jelly capsules or about 1/4 teaspoon of our royal jelly powder.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References:

Nutritional Science Vitaminol, 2007 Aug:53(4):345-8.

Pharmaceutical Biology, 2017 Dec:55(1):497-502

https://www.medicinenet.com/hdl_vs_ldl_cholesterol_differences/article.htm