Does Royal Jelly Boost Lifespan?

Supplementation with Major Royal Jelly Proteins Increases Lifespan, Feeding and Fecundity in Drosophila

J. Agric. Food Chem.

Publication Date (Web): July 7, 2016

The major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) are the main constituents responsible for the specific physiological role of RJ in honeybee. Male and female Drosophila flies were fed diets containing either no MRJPs (A), or casein (B) at 1.25% (w/w) of diet, or MRJPs at 1.25% (C) , 2.50% (D ) or 5.00% (E). Diets B, C, D and E increased mean lifespan by 4.3%, 9.0%, 12.4% and 13.9% in males, and by 5.8%, 9.7%, 20.0% and 11.8% in females when compared to diet A, respectively. The diet supplemented with 2.50% MRJPs seems to have the optimal dose to improve both physiological and biochemical measures related to aging in both sexes. Interestingly, lifespan extension by MRJPs in Drosophila was positively associated with feeding and fecundity, and up-regulation of CuZn-SOD and the Egfr-mediated signaling pathway. This study provides strong evidence that MRJPs are important components of RJ for prolonging lifespan in Drosophila.