Beneficial effect of pollen and/or propolis on the metabolism of iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in rats with nutritional ferropenic anemia

There has been considerable debate regarding the nutritional benefits of po llen and the propolis produced by bees, although most contributions have la cked scientific soundness. This paper describes the possible beneficial eff ect of their use in pharmacological products in cases of anemic syndrome. W e studied the effect of these two natural products on the digestive utiliza tion of iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, using control rats and ra ts with nutritional ferropenic anemia. The addition of these products to th e diet produced a positive effect on weight gain; this fact could constitut e a scientific basis for the application of pollen and propolis as fortifie rs. They improve the digestive utilization of iron and the regeneration eff iciency of hemoglobin, especially during recovery from an anemic syndrome. They also have a positive effect on phosphocalcic metabolism and maintain a n appropiate level of magnesium metabolism. Furthermore, in iron-deficient rats, these natural products palliate, to a large extent, the adverse effec ts of iron deficiency on calcium and magnesium metabolism as a result of th e improvement in the digestive utilization of these minerals.