Bee products as a food supplement in childhood nutrition and health

Abstract

Complex food supplements rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, fatty acids, and probiotics are widely available in the market to ensure healthy growth and development of children and to strengthen the immune system of specially school-age children. However, the use of synthetically produced food supplements makes parents uneasy, so the trend towards natural food supplements is increasing day by day. Bee products are natural products with high nutritional value produced by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Bee products are used as supportive in the treatment of many diseases in adults with the bioactive components they contain and strengthen the immune system. However, when the literature was examined, it was seen that the studies in which the effect of bee products on children is determined are quite limited. In this study, the effect of different bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly on child health and nutrition was reviewed. Although it was seen that bee products positively affected children’s health, it was important to use bee products after allergy testing. In addition, it was noticed that more studies are needed to determine the effect of bee products on child nutrition and health. © Selin İkiz & Merve Keskin.