A Look at Trials and the Composition of Bee Pollen.

By Carlos Hruzaman

When one looks at the nutritional composition of bee pollen it is hard to ignore its potential for benefit. Bee pollen is a nutritional source for “drone bees” and has been described as “nature’s perfect food”. It is a highly concentrated food source containing a complex supply of quality nutrients. High in vitamins, minerals and amino acids it has all the makings of a potent superfood packed with a wide range of health benefits. In fact, ‘superfood’ and ‘perfect food’ are both terms often applied to bee pollen by people familiar with it’s nutrients and chemical make up. Bee pollen benefits are basically associations, assumptions made based upon its nutrients and how those nutrients have been shown to be beneficial in other studies of substances containing similar nutrients. What this means is that too few clinical studies have actually been conducted into the benefits (potential or otherwise) of bee pollen, for there to be a definitive declaration of its usefulness as a dietary supplement.

That’s not to see that there are NO studies, merely that studies involving humans are very scarce when it comes to bee pollen. Bee Pollen‘s popularity arose from the high number of traditional Chinese herbal formulas containing the substance. Claims about its health benefits can be discusses more openly and freely in Asia, so those claims basically followed the various products as they entered the US markets.

Let’s take a quick look at a few animal/clinical studies that may steer us towards the truth.

A study involving 10 Arabian horses was conducted under controlled conditions where the horses were fed a randomized diet to receive either a product containing 55% bee pollen, or placebo consisting of 50% red wheat bran, 25% evaporate cane juice crystal sugar, 17% baking flour, and 8% powdered apple peels for 42 days. Under the control element of this experiment the horses performed a standard exercise test, after which the horses continued with horsemanship classes and were ridden over a period of one week. The standard exercise test was conducted twice weekly and a graded increase in exercise intensity was introduced in a controlled and calculated manner. The conclusion of the experiment suggested that the bee pollen may only be beneficial in the performance of horses by increasing food intake and nutrient retention.

Clinical data

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, the effect of Femal (an herbal remedy containing pollen extract 36 mg, combined pollen and pistil extract 120 mg, and royal jelly 6 mg) on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was assessed in 32 women with regular menstrual cycles. Each participant received Femal or placebo for 2 consecutive menstrual cycles, followed by the alternate treatment for 2 more consecutive cycles. Overall symptoms such as irritability and dysphoria were improved, and 6 of 9 symptom scores were reduced by 27% to 57%. Evidence also suggested a slow onset of action and protracted effect, considering that the placebo group first experienced a reduction in symptoms. Except for sleep quality, there were no differences in symptoms in participants receiving Femal before placebo. Weight gain was reduced by 50% in participants treated with Femal compared with placebo. The results suggest that Femal may be beneficial in improving PMS symptoms. However, the results of this study should be interpreted cautiously.

These are examples of the vague conclusions that are drawn from experiments conducted with as much of a scientific base as is possible, under the conditions. So we must tread with caution when we talk about bee pollen benefits, particularly when we consider some of the extraordinary claims which are made about this products, like ‘bee pollen cures cancer’ and bee pollen will help you lose weight’ etc.

Still, as I eluded to at the start of this article, there are some things that we can conclude without taking to high a leap of faith. Lets take a look at what bee pollen is composed of nutritionally.

bee pollen benefitIt is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids, and contains approximately 30% protein, 55% carbohydrate, 1% – 2% fat, 3% minerals and trace vitamins.

Two Vitamin C concentrations of 3.6% to 5.9% have also been found in some samples. It is important to understand that the nutritional density and composition changes from region to region, and even seasonally, as different conditions and different plant sources affect the types of pollens collected. But they mostly stay within a fairly narrow band of differences. So, given the impressive display of over a dozen vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes and co-enzymes, and 14 fatty acids, we can look towards the specifics of each of these components and understand how bee pollen may provide benefits to our health. Clearly, studies into specific vitamins, specific minerals and amino acids HAVE been conducted (without specifically referring to bee pollen) so we can use that data and correlate the results accordingly.

So one is left with a fairly hefty task of researching nutritional data, understanding how the nutrients are contained within bee pollen and in what quantity, then concluding that certain benefits ought to be realized when this substance is consumed.

It should also be made clear that there are certain negative side effects for a small group of people when taking bee pollen, so if you arrive at the stage where you wish to consume it (following the conclusion of your readings/research) you should do so under the guidance of your medical practitioner.

About the Author: Hruzaman is published researcher and author of popular health books featuring royal jelly products from the beehive. Researching and writing extensively on royal jelly, the benefits of bee pollen and propolis, the author has distributed this natural health books and products into over 120 countries around the world. You can learn more about the author here Bee Pollen

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=1131246&ca=Advice

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