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Sun, 17 Sep 2000 07:44:52 +1200 |
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Rimantas Zujus <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I would like to know if there is anybody having experience with vitamin
>adding to bee food. Maybe, some could point me the sites in the WEB
>describing the experience with the vitamins.
The term 'vitamin' means a minor organic nutrient essential for
life in a given species. Most of them are, or are converted to, co-enzymes
- smallish organic molecules that are essential for the action of their
respective enzymes in catalysing reactions in metabolic pathways.
Some spp need more vitamins than we do; others fewer. I haven't
studied bee vitamins, but I do point out that they're not the same list as
for the human sp. And I must say I'm sceptical of Rimantas' statement
> Some scientists try to strengthen the bees using vitamin B12. B12 may be
>substituted with vitamin A
>plus cobalt (bees produce the B12 themselves).
VitA is a very different chemical from vitB12 and I very
much doubt either can substitute for the other.
From the viewpoint of human nutrition, pollen generally contains a
superior range of vitamins in good amounts. (Making it more 'bioavailable'
to us by rupturing the pollen grains before eating may well be a genuine
help - anyone looked into this NZ invention?)
In a somewhat reckless & lazy gamble I'll predict there's little
evidence that bees can fail to get all the vitamins they need from pollen.
I hope this rash stab stimulates those who like to prove others wrong . .
. go to it, webcrawlers.
R
-
Robt Mann
consultant ecologist
P O Box 28878 Remuera, Auckland 1005, New Zealand
(9) 524 2949
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