Macro and Micro Mineral Elements Composition of Bee Pollen from Rainforest Zone of Nigeria

Bee pollen is the male seed of a flower blossom which has been gathered by the bees and to which special elements from the bees has been added. Laboratory analysis was carried out on the macro and micro mineral element compositions of bee pollen from Apis mellifera adansonii and Melipona species obtained within the rainforest zone of Nigeria. Results obtained indicated that the bee pollen types contained the minerals at varying concentrations. The main elements obtained were potassium (K) (91.00) mg/100g and phosphorus (99.15) mg/100g. Some of the trace elements included iron (Fe), zinc (zn) Etc. However, bee, pollen can serve as a mineral supplement. Also the percentages obtained might be the quantity required by the bees for brood rearing and therefore, should be used in formulating the quantity of minerals to be fed to the brood in the absence of pollen in this region.