The B Vitamins in Honey

Abstract

Microchemical and microbiological determinations showed the presence in honey of thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, and folic acid. The variation among samples was very large, due perhaps to the source of the honey and the number of pollen grains present. Comparison of new and aged honeys revealed a decrease in the pantothenic acid content of the latter. Pollen and royal jelly have also been assayed for these vitamins and have been found to be good sources of the B-complex. Royal jelly is very rich in biotin and pantothenic acid, which may be significant in the metabolism of the young bee.