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. 2024 Jan 8:10:1227414.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1227414. eCollection 2023.

Effects of the royal jelly consumption on post-stroke complications in patients with ischemic stroke: results of a randomized controlled trial

Elham Karimi  1   2 , Arman Arab  3   4 , Mahdi Sepidarkish  5 , Fariborz Khorvash  6 , Mohammad Saadatnia  6 , Reza Amani  1
Affiliations

Effects of the royal jelly consumption on post-stroke complications in patients with ischemic stroke: results of a randomized controlled trial

Elham Karimi et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Aims: There is a paucity of evidence regarding the benefit of royal jelly (RJ) on post-stroke complications in patients with ischemic stroke. To address this knowledge gap, this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out to determine the effects of RJ consumption on post-stroke clinical outcomes.

Methods: Of 64 eligible ischemic stroke patients (45-80 years), 32 were randomized to the RJ and 32 to the placebo groups and completed a 12-week intervention. The intervention group was advised to receive 1,000 mg of RJ dragee daily after breakfast. Post-stroke complications including cognition, fatigue, mental health, and appetite, along with serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were assessed in groups pre-and post-intervention.

Results: After 12 weeks of RJ consumption, cognitive function [adjusted mean difference, 4.71; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.75 to 7.67], serum levels of BDNF (adjusted mean difference, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.67), stress (adjusted mean difference, -3.33; 95% CI, -6.50 to -0.17), and appetite (adjusted mean difference, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.19 to 2.56) were significantly improved. However, the findings for fatigue (adjusted mean difference, -4.32; 95% CI, -10.28 to 1.63), depression (adjusted mean difference, -1.71; 95% CI, -5.58 to 2.16), anxiety (adjusted mean difference, -2.50; 95% CI, -5.50 to 0.49), and MUAC (adjusted mean difference, 0.36; 95% CI, -0.11 to 0.84) were less favorable.

Conclusion: Findings support the benefits of RJ consumption in improving post-stroke complications and clinical outcomes.Clinical trial registration: https://www.irct.ir/trial/59275, Identifier IRCT20180818040827N4.

Keywords: cognitive function; fatigue; ischemic stroke; mental health; royal jelly.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram of study participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dietary intakes of the intervention group (royal jelly = 32) and the control group (placebo = 32) during the three-month intervention. Nutrient intakes are presented as means with standard deviation within bars.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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