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Joksimović, A. et al.: Royal jelly as a supplement for young football players Sport Science, 2 (2009) 1: 62-67
62
ROYAL JELLY AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Aleksandar Joksimović 1, Daniel Stanković 1, Ivana Joksimović 2,
Slavko Molnar 3 and Stanimir Joksimović 1
1 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Niš, Serbia
2 Clinical Center in Niš, Serbia
3 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, Novi Sad, Serbia
Original scientific paper
Abstract
In direct application of scientific discoveries to good quality training process, royal jelly as a
supplement is applied as a criterion of positive change in the phase of adaptation and exhaustion of
young football players' bodies. Research carried out with 25 FC “Red Star” Belgrade football players,
12 years old, separated in 2 groups. Experimental group (15) took the supplement daily for two
months. The control group (10) did not use the supplement. All the examines during the two
months had a regular regime of training (4 times per week) and they competed in the youngest
Belgrade league. It were observed 13 morphological characteristics in initial and final measuring.
On the basis of the research results it could be concluded that football players from experimental
group who used royal jelly had statistically significant increase of body height and muscle
component, and decrease of fat component in final measurement comparing to the initial. Also, the
results show statistically significant increase in circumference above knee and circumference of
lower leg in experimental group on the end of the experimental treatment. The examinees from
experimental group had higher average values in body height, body mass, muscle and bone
component, and lower average value in fat component.
Key words: royal jelly, nutrition supplement, muscle, fat and bone component.
Introduction
Physical activity is an integral part of a person's
life and it is a constant battle of man and his
environment which starts at his birth. The
intensity of the battle grows as man matures
and for every age there are specific
characteristics. At a certain level of
development and training a stressful reaction
appears which is constant and has its
development phases: alarm phase, adaptation
phase and phase of exhaustion. The task of
people employed in sports is to teach and
prepare the body for creating stronger defense
mechanisms for new stress agents. The
question is raised how to involve a young body
into a sports activity and not to disturb his
biological development and, simultaneously, to
achieve top results which sport requires. The
body not involved in sports satisfies the
requirements of normal mental and physical
development by daily food intake. However, if
the candidate performs increased physical
activity, regular and daily food intake cannot be
enough for both requirements - food
supplements are needed, and those are
vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and
an array of other biologically active substances
whose task is to satisfy previously mentioned
requirements.
Nowadays market offers thousands of remedies
which are supposed to help young athletes.
Their content and quality vary, from common
water to hormonal remedies which can
sometimes do greater damage to the body than
good. One of those remedies is royal jelly
which has positive effect on the body of an
athlete and can be used for medical purposes
and in medicine it is used from pediatrics to
geriatrics. The structure of royal jelly can be
used in many body states which we call non-
physiological: improvement of heart function,
strengthening of immune system, improvement
of mental state and mood, strengthening and
increase of body resistance, regulation of
adrenal gland function under stress, depression
relief, fatigue, neurosis, insomnia and the likes,
stimulation of functioning of gland with internal
secretion, regulation of functioning of all organs
and tissues, improvement of convalescents
recovery etc. Numerous scientific analysis
(Ardry, 1956; Howe et al., 1985; Otani et al.,
1985; Takenaka, 1984 and 1987; Schmitzova
et al. 1998) show that royal jelly contains all of
these substances for which we lobby and which
should be taken in any form; they resorb
rapidly and are taken to basic units – cells by
transport mechanism.
Joksimović, A. et al.: Royal jelly as a supplement for young football players Sport Science, 2 (2009) 1: 62-67
63
At that level bioactive actions take place. Some
research (Johansson & Johansson 1958;
Bonomi 1983; Prosperi & Ragazzini 1956;
Destrem 1956) followed the effects of use of
royal jelly on a sample of adults over a certain
period. The following was determined:
improvement of heart function and blood
vessels, better excitation of nervous system,
faster relief of fatigue, shortening of recovery
time and other parameters which are
significant for achieving results in football.
Johansson's research shows that royal jelly has
positive effect on intestinal flora and this
antimicrobial activity can be explained by PH
value activity. The effect of some components
on endocrinal glands or their intake and
entering the enzyme system which affects the
metabolism was investigated by Bonomi in
1983 emphasizing the positive effect. Prosperi
and Ragazzini (1956) argue that royal jelly
affects the basic state, increases body mass,
erythrocytes, hemoglobin (80-100 mg daily).
According to Destrem in 1956 royal jelly
achieves good effects when 20 mg is injected
every day or every other day. Takohashi et al.
(1983) point out the appearance of allergic
contact dermatitis caused by royal jelly in
patients which are sensitive to it. Ardry (1956)
thinks that royal jelly influences the body by
stimulating the gland with internal secretion,
especially the adrenal gland. The subject of
research is royal jelly as the supplement in the
preparation period with young football players,
seventh and eighth grade primary school
students and their morphological
characteristics.
The basic concern of this research is how
efficient the application of royal jelly is as a
supplement in the preparation period for
morphological characteristics development at
the end of experimental period in the process
of training work with experimental group. The
general aim is to determine the efficiency of
application of royal jelly as a supplement for
the development of morphological
characteristic in the experimental group. A
specific goal is to determine the difference at
the end of the experiment in morphological
characteristics between experimental and
control group. Based on the subject, the matter
and the aim of the experiment the following
tasks were set: a) to determine morphological
characteristics on initial and final
measurements in experimental and control
group; b) to determine the differences in
morphological characteristics between initial
and final measurement in experimental and
control group; c) to determine the differences
in morphological characteristics between
experimental and control group at the end of
experimental treatment.
Methods
Sample of examines
Research was done on a sample of 25 young
football players from „Red Star“ football club in
Belgrade, 12-year-olds separated into two
groups. Experimental group consisted of 15
examines who were taking royal jelly
supplement five times a week for two months.
Control group consisted of 10 young football
players who were not taking royal jelly. All
examines were during two months of
experiment exposed to regular training (4
times a week) and competed within the
Belgrade league.
Variables sample
Research was planned so as to register values
of 13 characteristics in observation of all
examines at the beginning of research and
after two months in order to assess whether
there is change in values of observed
characteristics within all of the research groups
as well as whether there is difference in values
of observed characteristics between
experimental and control group. The following
characteristics of observation were monitored:
body height (BH), body mass (BM), muscle
component (MC), bone component (BC), fat
component (FC), diameter of elbow (DE),
diameter of wrist (DW), diameter of knee (DK),
diameter of ankle (DA), circumference above
elbow (CAE), circumference of forearm (CFA),
circumference above knee (CAK),
circumference of lower leg (CBK).
Anthropometric measurements of
morphological characteristics are taken from
Kurelić et al 1975.
Determining bone component
Mateigka calculates bone component according
to formula:Skeleton mass in grams = body
height * K1 * D2 ; Body height in mm; K1
(constant) = 1.2; D = (diameter of elbow +
diameter of knee + diameter of wrist +
diameter of foot joint) / 4. Relative bone
component is calculated according to formula:
Relative bone mass = skeleton mass in grams
* 100 / body mass.
Determining muscle component
Mateigka calculates muscle component
according to the following formula:Muscle
component = r2 * body height * K; r = mean
value of radii calculated from circumference of
body segments, and it is calculated according
to formula: r = ((CAE+CFA+CAK+CBK) /
25.12)–((SCAE+SCFA+SCAK+SCBK) / 8),
where the abbreviations mean as follows: CAE
– circumference above elbow, CFA –
circumference of forearm, CAK – circumference
above knee, CBK – circumference of lower leg,
SCAE – skin crease above elbow, SCFA – skin
Joksimović, A. et al.: Royal jelly as a supplement for young football players Sport Science, 2 (2009) 1: 62-67
64
crease of forearm, SCAK – skin crease above
knee, SCBK – skin crease of lower leg, K
(constant) = 6,5. Relative muscle component is
calculated according to formula: Relative
muscle mass = muscle mass in grams *100 /
body mass
Determining fat component
Mateigka calculates mass component according
to formula: Mass component = d * TP * K2; d
= mean value of measured skin creases (above
elbow, forearm, above knee, lower leg, back
and stomach) divided by 12. TP = surface of
body in cm2, (nomogram for calculation of
surface of body Barou and Rozmari 1975, 179,
picture 8-6.); K2 (constant) = 0.13. Relative fat
component is calculated according to formula:
Relative mass component = fat component in
grams * 100 / body weight.
Method of data processing
Research of effects of royal jelly application as
supplement in young football players
preparatory period was carried out within 32
training sessions over a two-month period for
the experimental group, which has used royal
jelly as supplement five times a week.
The control group had 32 training sessions as
well over a two-month period, simultaneously
with the experimental group. The operational
plan and program with both groups of
examines were the same and they were drawn
up in the football club. With both examine
groups two measurements of morphological
characteristics were performed at the
beginning and at the end of the experiment.
With the goal of getting statistical analysis of
research results a database was formed using
statistical program SPSS 11.5 for Windows.
Central and dispersive parameters of attained
anthropometrical measurement results for
experimental and control group were
calculated. Differences in anthropometrical
measurements of experimental and control
groups were determined by Student's T-test for
dependant and independent samples.
Results
Table 1. Descriptive statistical indicators of experimental group examines in 1st and 2nd
measurement and differences between 1st and 2nd measurement
Variables AVG N SD SE AVG-D t df p
BH I 152,46 15 6,29 1,62
BH BH II 154,13 15 6,79 1,75 -1,66 6,74 14 0,000
BM I 42,95 15 6,45 1,66
BM BM II 43,30 15 6,51 1,68 -0,35 1,21 14 0,246
MC I 41,22 15 3,18 0,82
MC MC II 43,35 15 2,16 0,55 -2,13 2,67 14 0,018
BC I 19,74 15 1,56 0,40
BC BC II 19,47 15 1,28 0,33 0,27 1,03 14 0,322
FC I 16,87 15 4,90 1,26
FC FC II 14,10 15 3,71 0,95 2,76 5,84 14 0,000
DE I 6,35 15 0,63 0,16
DE DE II 6,38 15 0,56 0,14 -0,029 0,16 14 0,878
DW I 4,91 15 0,42 0,11
DW DW II 4,97 15 0,34 0,88 -0,053 0,93 14 0,370
DK I 9,37 15 0,57 0,15
DK DK II 9,28 15 0,60 0,15 0,087 0,50 14 0,625
DA I 6,40 15 0,81 0,21
DA DA II 6,76 15 0,26 0,68 -0,353 1,87 14 0,083
CAE I 21,79 15 1,72 0,44
CAE CAE II 22,40 15 1,39 0,35 -0,61 1,03 14 0,132
CFA I 20,51 15 1,12 0,28
CFA CFA II 20,67 15 1,00 0,25 -0,15 1,00 14 0,335
CAK I 44,61 15 4,50 1,16
CAK CAK II 47,20 15 3,86 0,99 -2,59 2,38 14 0,032
CBK I 31,45 15 2,04 0,52
CBK CBK II 32,65 15 2,07 0,53 -1,20 3,24 14 0,006
AVG = average, N = number of entities, SD = st. deviation, SE = st. error,
AVG-D = difference average, t= t-test value, df degrees of freedom, p = probability
Joksimović, A. et al.: Royal jelly as a supplement for young football players Sport Science, 2 (2009) 1: 62-67
65
Table 2. Descriptive statistical indicators of control group examines in 1st and 2nd measurement
and differences between 1st and 2nd measurement
Variables AVG N SD SE AVG-D t df p
BH I 158,12 10 4,69 2,35
BH BH II 158,82 10 5,02 2,51 -0,50 2,45 9 0,092
BM I 42,62 10 3,54 1,77
BM BM II 42,62 10 3,42 1,71 0,00 0,00 9 1,000
MC I 43,52 10 3,09 1,54
MC MC II 42,50 10 1,66 0,83 1,01 0,90 9 0,437
BC I 21,34 10 0,56 0,28
BC BC II 19,59 10 1,19 0,60 1,75 3,03 9 0,056
FC I 12,19 10 4,46 2,23
FC FC II 12,73 10 3,42 1,71 -0,53 -0,70 9 0,535
DE I 6,53 10 0,34 0,17
DE DE II 6,30 10 0,33 0,16 0,22 0,984 9 0,398
DW I 4,85 10 0,10 0,05
DW DW II 4,82 10 0,09 0,05 0,02 0,52 9 0,638
DK I 9,47 10 0,25 0,12
DK DK II 9,47 10 0,46 0,22 0,00 0,00 9 1,000
DA I 6,87 10 0,36 0,17
DA DA II 6,97 10 0,21 0,10 -0,10 0,56 9 0,613
CAE I 20,52 10 1,25 0,62
CAE CAE II 20,82 10 1,45 0,72 -0,30 0,59 9 0,595
CFA I 19,32 10 0,39 0,19
CFA CFA II 19,75 10 0,59 0,29 -0,43 1,35 9 0,118
CAK I 43,02 10 1,98 0,99
CAK CAK II 43,62 10 0,25 0,12 -0,60 0,58 9 0,605
CBK I 31,50 10 1,47 0,73
CBK CBK II 31,42 10 0,51 0,25 0,07 0,10 9 0,924
AVG = average, N = number of entities, SD = st. deviation, SE = st. error,
AVG-D = difference average, t= t-test value, df degrees of freedom, p = probability
Table. 3. Testing significance of difference
between experimental and control group
t-test for undependent samples
Variables t df p X,¯
BH -1,664 23 0,114 -5,66
BM 0,095 23 0,926 0,32
MC -1,290 23 0,214 -2,30
BC -1,973 23 0,065 -1,59
FC 1,723 23 0,103 4,68
DE -0,518 23 0,611 -0,17
DW 0,295 23 0,771 0,06
DK -0,364 23 0,721 -0,11
DA -1,108 23 0,283 -0,47
CAE 1,361 23 0,191 1,26
CFA 2,054 23 0,056 1,19
CAK 0,674 23 0,509 1,58
CBK -0,048 23 0,962 -0,05
Discussion and conclusion
In Table 1 it is noticeable that the average
values of body height, body mass and muscle
component in the experimental group have
increased, the average value of fat component
has decreased while the average value of bone
component has remained almost the same as
at the beginning.
The values of Student T-test show the
existence of high statistically significant
increase of body height (=1,66cm) and
statistically significant decrease of fat
component value (=2,76%) after the two-
month consumption of the substance.
Statistically significant increase of muscle
component value was determined (=2,13%),
whereas there is no statistical significance in
value of body mass and bone component.
Results also indicate that there are no bigger
changes of values in circumference of elbow,
arm wrist, knee and ankle in examines who
have used royal jelly. In Table 2 it is evident
that there are no bigger changes of values in
body height, body mass, muscle and fat
component at the final in comparison to initial
measurement with control group. Also, there
are no changes in diameter and circumference
measures. Results of Student T-test indicate
that there is no statistically significant
difference of examined traits in the
experimental group. Also, it can be seen that
there has been a statistically significant
increase of circumference above knee
(=2,59cm) and circumference of lower leg
(=1,20cm) in examines who have used the
substance.
Table 3 shows the results of Student T-test for
independent samples. By comparison of results
at the end of research in the experimental and
control group there are no statistically
significant difference in measured variables.
Joksimović, A. et al.: Royal jelly as a supplement for young football players Sport Science, 2 (2009) 1: 62-67
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However, the examines in the experimental
group had, after the two-month substance
consumption on average 1,58 cm greater
circumference of lower leg than the examines
of the control group. In modern football, in the
conditions of high intensity game, longer
intervals of endurance and shorter intervals of
rest, high requirements of anthropological
characteristics are set especially for motor and
functional abilities and morphological
characteristics. The development of listed
anthropological characteristics has effectuated
in the process of training work in line with
individual abilities and football players'
characteristics. A number of scientists
(Jerković, 1986; Petrić, 1994; Hadžić, 2005;
Joksimović, 2007.) point out that for
anthropological characteristics development of
football players proper methodical formation of
training is crucial (planning, programming,
control, methods for the development of
abilities and other factors). There are almost no
research studies which recommend substances
to help young football players for the
development of abilities and traits and proper
biological development of body. In the last few
years some researchers (Bonomi, 1983;
Takahashi et al., 1983) point out that the royal
jelly substance has positive effect on the body
of a footballer and it ameliorates the growth
and development of the body.
In the last few years in the development of
football game there have been changes in the
manner and the system of the game which
caused the structure of the training process to
be innovated by a new and more rational
content of work. The modern game requires
more dynamics and universal ability of the
player in the phase of defense and offence
(Joksimović, 2007). That kind of game requires
a greater physical ability from the footballer
which cannot be satisfied through regular and
every day diet. Such cases require so called
supplements and those are vitamins, essential
amino acids and other biologically active
substances, whose aim is to satisfy the
requirements of diet in strenuous training
process of young football players. With regard
to length of experimental treatment (2
months), bigger differences in morphological
characteristics couldn’t happen.
On the basis of the research results it could be
concluded that football players from
experimental group who used royal jelly had
statistically significant increase of body height
and muscle component, and decrease of fat
component in final measurement comparing to
the initial. Also, the results show statistically
significant increase in circumference above
knee and circumference of lower leg in
experimental group on the end of the
experimental treatment. The examinees from
experimental group had higher average values
in body height, body mass, muscle component,
and lower average value in fat component.
References
Ardry, R. (1956). Contribution l’etude de la gele royal (I, II, III). Annales Pharmaceutiques
Francaise, 14, 97.
Barou, H., & Rozmari, M. (1975). Merenje u fizičkom vaspitanju. (Measurement in physical
education) 179, picture 8-6.
Bonomi, A. (1983) Acquisizioni in tema di composizione chimica e di attivita' biologica della pappa
reale. Apitalia, 10 (15), 7-13.
Destrem, H. (1956) Experimentation de la gelee royale d'abeille en pratique geriatrique (134 cas).
Revue Francaise Geront, 3.
Hadžić, R. (2005). Prediktivna vrijednost bazičnih motoričkih sposobnosti na rezultate situaciono-
motoričkih sposobnosti fudbalera uzrasta 14-16 godina. (Predictive value of basic motor skills to
the results of the situational-motor abilities of players aged 14-16 years) Sport Mont. Zbornik
radova, 219-226.
Howe, S.R., Dimick, P.S., & Benton A.W. (1985). Composition of freshly harvested and commercial
royal jelly. Journal of Apicultural Research, 24 (1), 52–61.
Jerković, S. (1986). Relacije izmedju antropometrijskih, dinamo-metrijskih i situaciono-motorickih
dimenzija i uspjeha u fudbalskoj igri. (Relations between anthropometric, dynamo-metric and
motor dimensions with success in football game) Doktorska disertacija. Zagreb: FFK.
Johansson, T., & Johansson, M. (1958). Royal jelly. II Bee world, 39, 254- 277.
Joksimović, A. (2007). Fudbal tehnika i metodika. (Football technics and metodics). Niš: Fakultet
sporta i fizičkog vaspitanja.
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Struktura i razvoj morfoloških i motoričkih dimenzija omladine. (Structure and development of
morphological and motor dimensions of youth). Belgrade: Institut za naučna istraživanja
Fakulteta za fizičko vaspitanje.
Otani, H., Oyama, M., & Tokita, F. (1985). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic and immunochemical
properties of proteins in royal jelly. Japanese J. Dairy Food Science 34, 21–25.
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Petrić, D. (1994). Uticaj situaciono-motoričkih i kognitivnih dimenzija na uspeh u fudbalskoj igri.
(Influence of situational-motor abilities and cognitive dimensions of success in football game)
Doktorska disertacija. Novi Sad: Fakultet fizičke kulture.
Prosperi, P., & Ragazzini F. (1956). Applicazioni cliniche della gele’e royale in campo pediatrico. Riv.
Clin. Pediat, 58 (3), 319.
Schmitzova, J., Klaudiny, J., Albert, Š., Schroder, W.,Schreckengost, W., Hanes, J., Judova, J., &
Šimuth J. (1998). A family of major royal jelly proteins of the honeybee Apis mellifera L. CMLS
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Takahashi, M., Matsuo, I., & Ohkido, M. (1983). Contact dermatitis due to honeybee royal jelly.
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Takenaka T. (1984). Studies on proteins and carboxylic acid in royal jelly. Bull. Fac. Agric., 24,
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Verlag J. Papemy, 162-163.
MATIČNI MLIJEČ KAO SUPLEMENT KOD MLADIH NOGOMETAŠA
Sažetak
U neposrednoj aplikaciji naučnih saznanja u kvalitetnom trenažnom procesu matični mliječ kao
suplement primjenjen je kao kriterijum pozitivne promjene u fazi adaptacije i iscrpljenosti
organizma mladih fudbalera. Istraživanje sprovedeno sa 25 fudbalera FK “Crvena Zvezda” Beograd,
starih 12 godina podjeljenih u dvije grupe. Eksperimentalna grupa(15) uzimala je preparat mliječa
svakodnevno dva mjeseca. Kontrolna grupa(10) nije koristila preparat mliječa. Svi ispitanici u toku
dva mjeseca imali su redovan režim treninga (4 puta nedjeljno) i takmičili su se u okviru pionirske
Beogradske lige. U inicijalnom i finalnom mjerenju praćeno je 13 morfoloških obilježja. Na osnovu
dobijenih rezultata može se zaključiti da fudbaleri eksperimentalne grupe koji su koristili matični
mliječ u finalnom mjerenju u odnosu na inicijalno imaju statistički značajno povećanje tjelesne
visine i mišićne komponente, a smanjenje masne komponente. Takođe, prisutno je i statistički
značajno povećanje obima natkoljenice i potkoljenice kod eksperimentalne grupe na kraju
eksperimentalnog perioda. Ispitanici eksperimentalne grupe su imali prosječno veće vrijednosti u
tjelesnoj visini, tjelesnoj masi, mišićnoj komponenti i koštanoj komponenti, a manju prosječnu
vrijednost masne komponente.
Ključne riječi: matični mliječ, suplement, mišići, mast i komponente kosti
Received: February 09, 2009.
Accepted: May 26. 2009.
Correspondence to:
Assist. Prof. Aleksandar Joksimović, Ph.D.
University of Niš
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
Čarnojevića 10A, 18000 Niš, Serbia
Phone: +381 (0)18 510 900
E-mail: aleksandarj@ffk.ni.ac.rs