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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:59:45 -0400
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It is generally believed that waxes are not digested or
    absorbed from the alimentary tract in most mammals, including man.
    Beeswax may be indigestible in mammals due to the structure of its
    component compounds, which are not susceptible to hydrolysis by
    enzymes of the alimentary tract, and due to its insolubility in
    water and high melting point (62 °C - 65 °C) which prevent
    dissolution at body temperature (FASEB, 1975). There are no original
    research data available to support this claim.

         There are reports in the literature that beeswax can be used as
    the sole source of carbon by insects and microorganisms (Opdyke,
    1976). This would suggest that certain amounts of ingested beeswax
    could be broken down by gut microflora and then possibly absorbed.

 from 

    BEESWAX by Dr D.L Grant
    Bureau of Chemical Safety
    Health and Welfare
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v30je11.htm

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