Effects of royal jelly on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled study

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effects of royal jelly (RJ) supplementation on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Methods This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Seventy-two healthy postmenopausal women aged 45–60 years within 5 years after menopause were randomized into two groups: women in the RJ group (n = 36) received capsules containing dried RJ (equivalent to 3000 mg of fresh RJ); and women in the placebo group (n = 36) received placebo daily for 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2–L4) and left proximal femur, hip structural analysis (HSA) of the left hip, and bone turnover markers were measured. Results Although women in the placebo group experienced a significant loss of BMD and deterioration in HSA parameters of the femur, no significant differences were found in these parameters in women in the RJ group. The levels of total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase decreased significantly in the placebo group; however, the total P1NP level, a marker of bone formation, was not significantly different in the RJ group at postintervention compared with baseline. Conclusion RJ consumption may ameliorate decreases in femoral BMD and strength in postmenopausal women.