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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Propolis and Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

Research synthesisModerate evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies (all systematic reviews with meta-analyses), propolis supplementation consistently shows beneficial effects on reducing Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α). Effect sizes range from small to large, with the highest-quality meta-analyses reporting moderate-to-large reductions (e.g., mean difference of -1.15 pg/mL; standardized mean difference of -1.42). The evidence is based on adult populations, including those with type 2 diabetes, but study durations and doses were not consistently reported.

  • Studied populations: adults; patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Doses and study durations were not consistently reported across studies, limiting the ability to identify optimal dosing or treatment length.

Generated Jun 11, 2026
3 of 3 papers
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