Can pine pollen fight cancer, prevent aging, and treat cardiovascular disease? Don’t be fooled!

"Pine pollen can fight cancer, prevent aging, treat gastrointestinal discomfort, cerebrovascular disease, anemia..."

In recent years, pine pollen has been selling like hot cakes on major online platforms, with merchants claiming that pine pollen is "the source of life, the best pollen in the world, and long-term consumption can maximize the quality of life, stimulate the body's potential... and even rejuvenate." "Pine pollen does not cure diseases but can cure the root causes and regulate the body at the cellular level." It can treat gastrointestinal discomfort, cerebrovascular diseases, anemia, and even has very significant effects in anti-cancer and anti-aging.

Rumor Analysis

This is a rumor.

Pine pollen is no different from pollen from other plants. It contains substances that are also found in many other foods, and the content is similar. There is no particularly magical substance in it.

In recent years, pine pollen has been selling like hot cakes on major online platforms, and the varieties are also very rich, from broken-wall pine pollen, pine calcium milk powder, pine pollen tablets, to sugar-free pine pollen suitable for diabetics. It can be said that "a hundred flowers bloom", and there is always one that suits you.

What is the nutritional value of pine pollen? Does it really have so many benefits? Is it worth buying?

What is pine pollen?

What exactly is pine pollen, a popular commodity among merchants? As the name suggests, pine pollen is the pollen of pine trees. The pine pollen sold on the market mainly comes from pine trees such as Masson pine and Pinus tabulaeformis.

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

Some claim that pine pollen really contains the most, most complete, and best-matched nutrients in the world, with more than 200 kinds of nutrients. The content of each ingredient is extremely high. The total amount of protein is 7 to 10 times that of beef and eggs, the mineral iron content is 20 times higher than spinach, and the carotene content is 10 to 20 times more than carrots.

In fact, this statement is completely exaggerated and distorted. In fact, pine pollen is no different from pollen of other plants . It is mainly composed of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and trace components such as phospholipids and choline. It contains many other foods, and the content is not different. There is no special magical substance.

The nutritional content of pine pollen is not significantly higher than that of other common foods. Image source: [1] Yang Hanbing, Yin Keqing, Chen Jing, et al. Analysis of nutritional components of four types of pollen [J]. Chinese Bee Industry, 2010(6):4. DOI:10.3969/j.issn.0412-4367.2010.06.003.

Does pine pollen have any health benefits?

Pine pollen was once listed as a new resource food and health food by the former Ministry of Health (now the National Health Commission). However, in 2004, the former Ministry of Health made a revision and listed pine pollen and rapeseed pollen as ordinary foods. In other words, it is as common as radish and cabbage, and has no special health benefits. Currently, pine pollen is widely used in many foods.

Some studies have also analyzed various extracts from pine pollen, such as its polysaccharides, antioxidants, etc., to see if it has any "benefits" that can be used as a selling point. However, current research is mainly based on cell and animal experiment results, and it is difficult to say what benefits it has for the human body.

The broken-wall pine pollen on the market has been approved as a health food in my country. Its approved function is to enhance immunity, and the claimed active ingredient is crude polysaccharide. Polysaccharides are some large molecular carbohydrates that are widely present in various plant foods, such as the fruits, vegetables and rice we eat. There are indeed some studies exploring the polysaccharides in pine pollen, but they are mainly cell studies and animal studies, and no conclusive evidence has been found that they are beneficial to the human body.

Copyrighted stock images, no reproduction is authorized

In addition, pine pollen is added to many foods on the market, such as pine pollen calcium milk powder, pine pollen beverages, etc. Its function is actually more to increase the aroma , just like the osmanthus cake you buy.

In general, pine pollen is just an ordinary food ingredient, which is currently used in many foods. It does not have any special health effects.

Even health foods do not have the effect of curing or preventing diseases. If you are sick, it is recommended to go to a regular hospital for systematic treatment. Do not blindly believe in the magical effects of health products. Do not delay treatment because of blindly believing in the effects of health foods.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

In fact, regarding issues of diet and nutrition, for the vast majority of healthy ordinary people, we only need to remember the principle of balanced nutrition and arrange our daily diet with reference to dietary guidelines. There is no need to force the so-called "health effects" of food.

References

[1] Situ Ronggui, Huang Ting, Peng Guanming, et al. Identification and difference analysis of components of four types of pine pollen[J]. Forestry and Environmental Science, 2021, 37(05): 19-24.

[2] Ruan Wenhui, Wu Zhe, Zhang Jiao, et al. Analysis of the current status of pollen application in health food[J]. Hubei Agricultural Sciences, 2020, 59(20): 10-14. DOI: 10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2020.20.002.

[3] Hu Luman, Qiao Qiang, Yang Changjun, et al. Effects of different yeast fermentation on the antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of pine pollen [J/OL]. Food and Fermentation Industries, 1-11 [2024-08-10]. https://doi.org/10.13995/j.cnki.11-1802/ts.037691.

[4] Wu Haoyuan. Research and quality study of pine pollen milk beverage[D]. Shandong Agricultural University, 2020. DOI: 10.27277/d.cnki.gsdnu.2020.001089.

[5] Chang Zhiyao, Liu Qisong, Li Quanhong. Research progress on the functions and processing of pine pollen[J]. Grain and Oils, 2020, 33(04): 20-22.

[6] Liu Guolong. Evaluation of endogenous enzyme activity of pine pollen and its influence on product quality[D]. Shandong Normal University, 2024. DOI: 10.27280/d.cnki.gsdsu.2024.000184.

[7] Liu Qisong, Chen Yang, Yang Changjun, et al. Protective effects of different pine pollen extracts on cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian damage in rats[J]. Food Science, 2024, 45(06): 105-112.

[8] Wang Tong, Qu Tao, Cheng Yong, et al. Effects of cell wall breaking on nutritional components and physicochemical properties of pine pollen[J]. Food Research and Development, 2023, 44(04): 58-63.

[9] Wang Cheng. Study on the protective mechanism of pine pollen polysaccharide on myocardial injury in animals with LPS-induced sepsis[D]. Shandong Agricultural University, 2023. DOI: 10.27277/d.cnki.gsdnu.2023.000057.

[10] He Xiaoping, Dai Chengen, Li Hailong, et al. Functional components of pine pollen and antioxidant activity of masson pine pollen[J]. Food Industry, 2022, 43(05): 151-154.

Author: Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert