{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"propolis","kind":"supplement","name":"propolis","aliases":["bee propolis","bee glue"],"brands_sg":["California Gold Nutrition","Nature's Answer","Beekeeper's Naturals","NOW Foods","NaturaNectar"],"class":"bee product","tags":["immune"],"use_for":"limited human evidence — immune markers barely moved","use_after":"no timing rule given","use_duration":"the one immune trial ran 12 weeks","take_with":null,"pros":["27-trial meta-analysis: CRP fell, glutathione rose","not on the HSA prohibited or restricted lists"],"cons":["immune markers unchanged in a 12-week trial in over-60s","same meta-analysis: no change in IL-10, IL-2, IL-8, MDA","6.2% of patch-tested dermatitis patients reacted"],"dose_note":"the one immune trial found used 600 mg a day of Chinese propolis for 12 weeks; the 2025 meta-analysis pooled 27 trials of varying dose and says the optimal dosage is still to be determined","dosage":{"ul":null,"unit":"mg","fda_dv":null,"rda_ai":null,"ul_status":"none_established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":null},"ul_status":"none_established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["bee-product allergy — contact dermatitis is commonly reported after cosmetics or food supplements containing propolis","composition varies with the plants the bees visited, so two products are not the same thing","Brazilian and Chinese propolis gave very different patch-test reaction rates in the same clinic"],"clashes":[],"sources":[{"id":"propolis_meta","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12104767","label":"Propolis supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025) — abstract via Europe PMC REST, PMC12104767","quote":"27 trials with 29 treatment arms … propolis consumption led to a significant decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) … However, there were no significant effects on IL-10, IL-2, IL-8, pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"propolis_immune_rct","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11699101","label":"Propolis does not significantly modulate immune function in an older population: A preliminary study (Pu et al., Heliyon 2024) — abstract via Europe PMC REST, PMC11699101","quote":"Chinese propolis group (600 mg/day, n = 32) or the control group (n = 30) … No significant difference was detected in serum antibodies, cytokines, or lymphocyte and neutrophil functions between the two groups at any time point","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"propolis_allergy","url":"https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11965539","label":"Prevalence of Contact Allergy to Propolis — Testing With Different Propolis Patch Test Materials (Antelmi et al., Contact Dermatitis 2025) — abstract via Europe PMC REST, PMC11965539","quote":"Its chemical composition varies depending on the plant species visited by the bees. Contact dermatitis is commonly reported following exposure to cosmetics containing propolis or following the intake of food supplements … 16 (6.2%) reacted to propolis","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_hs_guidelines","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), clause 4.8 (Tables 4–5 list vitamins and minerals only; no propolis row)","quote":"HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_prohibited_2025","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-chp-prohibited-restricted-ing-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in HS and TM, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. 001 (October 2025), clause 1.3; Annexes A and B checked","quote":"highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list [propolis, honey, beeswax and royal jelly are not listed in Annex A or B]","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/c/propolis","label":"iHerb Singapore — “Propolis: 2X Extract Capsules, Throat Sprays & Drops” category page, default order, 58 results","quote":"California Gold Nutrition, Bee Propolis 2X … Nature's Answer, Propolis Extract, Ethanol-Free … Beekeeper's Naturals, Propolis Immune Support … NOW Foods, Propolis 1500 … NaturaNectar, Green Bee Propolis","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:29.426925+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}