2005/07/01 by Mark D. Finke · 6 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Bee Products Chemical Analysis #Insect and Pesticide Research #Plant and animal studies
paper · doi:10.1080/03670240500187278
openalex publication_date 2005/07/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Bee brood serves as a food source to humans in many countries although limited data exists concerning its nutrient composition. Bee brood (pupae and larvae) were analyzed for moisture, protein, fat, ash, fiber, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins. Bee brood was high in protein, fat, and carbohydrate. While low in calcium, bee brood was a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and the trace minerals iron, zinc, copper, and selenium. In addition, bee brood was a good source of essential amino acids with methionine being first limiting. While bee brood contained none of the fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E) it was a good source of most of the B-vitamins as well as vitamin C and choline. The fat was composed mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with only 2.0% being polyunsaturated fatty acids.