Peter
11/20/2024
9:14:50 AM | |  | |
Hi Dale
That's a very good question. I can tell you that people have collected and used bee products since ancient times, and they have learned to appreciate their numerous health-promoting properties.
Some studies have demonstrated specificl health benefits of bee products, including antimicrobial, nutritional, anticancer, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and immunostimulatory effects.
(Durazzo et al., 2021, El- Wahab and Eita, 2015, Kocot et al., 2018, Wehbe et al., 2019).
The most recent study I have reviewed was published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis in February, 2024. This study compared the amino acid content of three bee products: royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen...taken as supplements to safely improve the quality of nutrition with these beneficial products "of natural origin."
The samples were collected from the hives of Apis mellifera bees in the apiaries located in Poland. In this study, a broad panel of free amino acids in bee products was determined using a highly selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.
The study quantified 32 amino acids in bee pollen, 31 in royal jelly, and 28 in propolis. The most abundant essential amino acid in bee products was histidine in bee pollen, lysine in royal jelly, and valine in propolis. Proline was the most abundant non-essential amino acid in all bee products. Remember that amino acids make up protein and help build cells.
The study thus proved that bee products are characterized by specific profiles of free amino acids. "And in terms of protein and non-protein amino acid content, that is a good thing." And with that said, I would suggest to you bee pollen can indeed be characterized as a valuable food. But do remember that some people may have allergies to bee pollen.
Hope this answer your question....
Peter
|
