Effect of inflammation and mineral levels of royal jelly in experi̇mental obesity model

The prevalence of obesity has increased noticeably in the last quarter of a century and has become one of the most important health problems of society. Behavioural approach in obesity (with an increase in physical activity, reducing the amount of calories taken with the daily diet and providing the necessary sociological, psychological etc. support to the patient) is the initial treatment option. In cases where weight control cannot be achieved with this method, different treatment approaches should be added to the treatment. In general, these approaches can be listed as pharmacotherapy, changes in diet or composition, use of bioactive food ingredients and supplements (functional foods). The effects of royal jelly, which is recommended for use in the treatment of diseases with its antibacterial, antitumor, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in both traditional and modern medicine, on obesity have been the subject of research in recent years. In this context, the chronic effects of royal jelly were investigated in the experimental obesity model created with experimental animals. For this purpose, 5 groups of experimental animals were formed. One of these groups was planned as a control group and the other 4 experimental groups were given a high-fat diet (HFD) diet for 3 months, and an obesity model was created. Royal jelly was given to experimental animals that developed obesity in low (50 mg/kg-day), medium (100 mg/kg-day) and high (200 mg/kg-day) doses for 3 months. In the samples obtained at the end of the study, basic biochemical parameters (insulin, glucose, ghrelin, lipid profile, kidney and liver function tests, bio element levels) and inflammatory (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-18, leptin, adiponectin) parameters were analyzed. Caspase 3 positive (Cas3+) and insulin-positive (Ins+) cell numbers were determined in Langerhans' islet cells in pancreatic tissue. In order to determine the effect of royal jelly on adipogenesis in adipose tissue, the number and size of adipocyte cells per unit area and proliferation levels were analyzed. The results obtained show that even though weight control is not achieved by chronic royal jelly after obesity occurs, it suppresses other symptoms of obesity, hyperleptinemia, inflammation, beta-cell dysfunction and adipogenesis. Especially, the fact that royal jelly suppresses apoptosis and increases insulin synthesis in Langerhans islet cells in the long term suggests that it may be useful to examine the possible effects of royal jelly in terms of the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Because determining how royal jelly increases the number of insulin-positive cells in Langerhans islets may be important. Royal jelly may stimulate the synthesis and release of insulin again in cells with impaired function. Although unlikely, long-term use of royal jelly may have stimulated the formation of new β cells (betagenesis) that synthesize insulin in the islets of Langerhans. If so, royal jelly represents a new hope for the treatment of diabetic patients. For this reason, it may be recommended to investigate in detail the effects of chronic royal jelly applications on Langerhans islet cells.