Propolis for a Stronger Immune System?

What protects the beehive could also be of use to humans. At least for the benefits of propolis as a dietary supplement, there is no evidence.

The essentials in brief:

• Propolis is a putty resin produced by bees that acts against bacteria and fungi in the beehive.
• There is not a single approved health-related advertising claim for propolis in dietary supplements (NEM). A strengthening of the immune system by NEM has not been proven either.
• The propolis contained in NEM is not comparable to that in medicines.
• Dietary supplements with propolis powder from China are partially contaminated with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
• Propolis has a high allergic potential. Anyone who is allergic to bee or wasp stings should avoid the products. The same applies to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

What is behind the advertising for propolis?

Propolis is not only offered in medicines (e.g. throat lozenges) and personal care products, but also as a dietary supplement (NEM). Some of the products also contain pollen, royal jelly or plant extracts such as Echinaea .

For dietary supplements, especially on the Internet (and in some “guide books”), illegal disease-related statements such as “strengthens the body’s own defenses”, “harmonises digestion if taken regularly”, “for purulent inflammation of the mucous membranes such as gum and throat inflammation”, “acts against tiredness” and “rheumatic complaints”.

In fact, the European Food Safety Authority EFSA has examined numerous advertising statements (claims) submitted by manufacturers and found that there is no causal connection between them and the consumption of propolis. Statements in connection with the intake of dietary supplements and with the support of the health of the respiratory tract, the intestines, the liver, the immune system, normal blood circulation, oral health and the antibacterial and antifungal effect are therefore misleading (§ 11 LFGB) and therefore inadmissible .

Scientifically meaningful indications of an infection-preventive effect of propolis, for example with a view to colds, flu or the corona virus, cannot be found. Although propolis in the Petri dish can slow down the growth of various bacteria, fungi and even some viruses, this cannot be transferred to humans. Even if the theory were correct, the germ-inhibiting components of propolis should first be broken down by the digestive system. And should they actually get any further, the liver and kidneys – the body’s own detoxification organs – would break them down into ineffective substances or excrete them immediately.

In general, however, the antioxidative effect and the general health-promoting effect are in the foreground in product advertising for propolis food supplements, which, however, have also not been able to be proven by studies on humans.

If “valuable vitamins and minerals” are advertised, these micronutrients must be clearly named and the exact amounts per daily dose and as a percentage of the reference value must be given. An advertisement “rich in polyphenols, flavonoids and procyanidins” must also be backed up by precise quantities.

What should I pay attention to when using propolis products?

• If, for example, health-related advertising statements are made about the immune system and an antioxidant effect, these refer to added artificial vitamins (e.g. vitamin C) or minerals (e.g. zinc), but not to the propolis. Pay attention to the list of ingredients.
• 4.2% of the population are allergic to propolis. People who are known to have severe allergic reactions should consume propolis with caution. If you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, it is better not to use propolis supplements.
• According to the European Rapid Alert System RASFF, there were several warnings in previous years due to excessive levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) . In all cases, the raw material came from China.
• Bee products such as bee pollen and royal jelly , possibly also propolis, can contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are natural components of various plants and can cause genetic damage and cancer in humans. Their breakdown products are toxic to the liver. They are introduced into the bee products via the pollen. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids can pose a health risk even in small amounts. There is a particular risk of increased exposure to products from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the Black Sea region and South America. Pay attention to the origin and, if necessary, ask the manufacturer whether the propolis has been examined for pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
• From July 1, 2022, maximum quantity regulations for pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food supplements will apply ( Regulation (EU) 2020/2040 ). Food supplements that were placed on the market before this date may still be sold until December 31, 2023. The legal maximum amount is then 500 µg/kg for pollen-based food supplements, pollen and pollen products.
• Since too little is known about possible risks, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not consume propolis.

What is propolis?

Propolis is the substance that bees collect from the buds and bark of deciduous trees and enrich it with wax, pollen fractions and salivary secretions. In the hive, it is used as a sticky building material for sealing and to ward off bacteria and fungi. Propolis is said to have germ-inhibiting effects. Precisely because of these properties, propolis is popular in alternative medicine and naturopathy, especially in Eastern Europe. However, scientifically recognized study results in humans are rare.

In order to gain significant amounts of propolis, beekeepers attach fine-meshed plastic grids to the beehive. The bees cement the disruptive gaps. The grids are removed for the propolis harvest. The resin can be easily tapped off and ground into a powder by deep freezing. This is then offered as a dietary supplement. Medicines, on the other hand, contain special standardized extracts.

Most of the propolis consists of resins and waxes. The main role of the active ingredients is attributed to the flavonoids. In second place are the hydroxycinnamic acids such as caffeic and ferulic acid. Other water-soluble components are bee enzymes, sugar, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

Propolis smells distinctive, tastes bitter and pungent. At temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius it is supple and very sticky, but below 15 degrees Celsius it is firm and brittle.