Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen

Bee pollen harvested from the Al-Ahsa Oasis exhibits significant seasonal variations in fatty acid composition, with autumn yielding the highest concentrations of essential and unsaturated fatty acids, while summer provides optimal levels of oleic and palmitic acids. The study analyzed pollen samples collected throughout a year to determine the best harvest seasons for nutritional benefits, revealing that spring and summer are ideal for feeding honeybees during scarcity or human consumption due to their balanced fatty acid profiles. The research highlights the influence of botanical origins on fatty acid composition, emphasizing the importance of seasonal considerations in harvesting bee pollen for both ecological and dietary purposes.

Al-Kahtani, S. N., Taha, E.-K. A., Farag, S. A., Taha, R. A., Abdou, E. A., & Mahfouz, H. M. (2021). Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen. Biology, 10(6), 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10060495