Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Methods for Comparing Nutrients in Beebread Made by Africanized and European Honey Bees and the Effects on Hemolymph Protein Titers
Published on: March 17, 2015
Bee pollen and bee bread nutritional potential: Chemical composition and macronutrient digestibility under in vitro
Volkan Aylanc1, Soraia I Falcão2, Miguel Vilas-Boas2
1Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal; Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5300-253, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto 4169-007, Portugal.
Abstract:
Bee pollen (BP) and bee bread (BB) have been often investigated as potential functional foods. Both bee products are generally characterized by their high nutritional content, with BB being referred as more digestible than BP, however, there is a lack of scientific studies proving this claim. Here, we present a comparative evaluation of the macronutrient digestibility of BP and BB after applying a simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestive system, together with the evaluation of its nutritional value and chemical composition. The digestibility scores for protein content were calculated on average as 69% and 76% for BP and BB, respectively, whereas digestibility scores for soluble sugars varied depending on bee product and sugar type. The results demonstrated that the nutritional values of both bee products changed depending on their botanical origin but BB is more accessible in the intestinal lumen, especially regarding protein.
Related Concept Videos
What is Monogastric Digestion?
Protein Digestion
Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food undergoes mechanical breakdown by chewing and combines with saliva. Salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva, starts the breakdown of starches into maltose. The food then travels down the esophagus to the stomach.
In the stomach, a...

