Stability of the B complex vitamins in bee pollen

Author(s)

Vanilda Aparecida Soares de Arruda

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2009-06-15

Examining board members

Ligia Bicudo de Almeida Muradian; Helena Teixeira Godoy; Marilene de Vuono Camargo Penteado

• Advisor: Ligia Bicudo de Almeida Muradian

Abstract

Pollen is the main source of non liquid food for bees and it has been used as a supplement for human diet. Although many authors cited that bee products are rich in nutrients, it is known a little about the composition of bee pollen and, in particular, the presence of the B vitamin complex in this product. This original study has the objective of evaluate the stability of B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and PP), including its vitamers for a period of one year of storage in dried samples of bee pollen. It was also analyzed the effect of processing on vitamin content and the possible influence of polinic types on proximate composition and vitamin content. Samples were analyzed at time zero, after 4, 8 and 12 months. They were storaged under three different conditions: room temperature (with and without exposure to light) and freezer. The vitamins were quantified by HPLC with fluorescence detection after simultaneous extraction. All proposed vitamins were found in the analyzed samples and the dehydration process did not interfere in vitamin content (p<0.05). The variations were (dry basis): 0.59 to 1.09 mg/100g for vitamin B1; 1.73 to 2.56 mg/100g for vitamin B2; 6.43 to 15.34 mg/100g for vitamin PP and 0.33 to 0.68 mg/100g for vitamin B6. All samples were classified as heterofloral pollen, according to the big variability of polinic types. After one year of storage, it can be stated that vitamin B1 concentration remained constant, while for the other vitamins, the concentration loose was dependent on time and not on the storage condition (p<0.05). All samples were considered Vitamin B2 source. It was possible to explain mathematically, through linear regression equations of multivariate analysis, the influence of storage time in the concentrations of vitamin B6 and PP, they were explained as 76 and 60% respectively. (AU)