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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
10:42
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Particle-bound Bet v 1 Allergen in PM10
Published on: November 19, 2016
Bee pollen sensitivity in airborne pollen allergic individuals
Constantinos Pitsios1, Caterina Chliva, Nikolaos Mikos
1Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, "Laikon" General Hospital, Athens, Greece. pitsios@yahoo.com
Summary
Bee pollen contains significant amounts of allergenic pollens, including Oleaceae. Atopic individuals exhibit strong skin reactions to bee pollen extracts, indicating its allergenic potential.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Botany
- Food Science
Background:
- Alternative medicine practitioners often recommend bee pollen for its perceived health benefits.
- Bee pollen is utilized as both a dietary supplement and a therapeutic agent for various conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the qualitative and quantitative composition of bee pollen.
- To assess the skin reactivity of patients with atopy (allergic conditions) to bee pollen extracts.
Main Methods:
- Pollen content in bee pollen was quantified, and botanical identification was performed.
- Five bee pollen extracts were prepared for skin prick testing.
- Two hundred two volunteers, including 145 atopic patients and 57 controls, underwent skin prick tests.
Main Results:
- Bee pollen samples consistently showed high concentrations of Oleaceae pollen.
- Anemophilous pollens such as Compositeae and Chenopodiaceae were found in smaller quantities.
- A significant positive correlation was found between skin reactions to bee pollen extracts and common allergens like olive, grasses, and mugwort.
Conclusions:
- Bee pollen contains diverse and potentially allergenic pollens.
- Atopic patients demonstrated significant skin reactions to bee pollen extracts, confirming its allergenic nature.
- Further research is necessary to determine the safety of consuming large quantities of bee pollen, especially for allergic individuals.
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