Bee Pollen – Nutritional and Toxicological Aspects

Abstract

Pollen contains nutritional elements – carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements. The pollen contains also important amount of polyphenolic compounds, primarily antioxidants. Because the pollen is rich in nutrients, honeybee-collected pollen is recommended as a dietary supplement. The product can be used as dietary supplements to enrich food with valuable nutrients performing important functions in the human body. Pollen is a bee product affected by contaminants of various origins. In addition to important nutrients, it may also contain heavy metals that are harmful to human health. May be contaminated from air and soil by heavy metals and pesticides.