ArticleLife (Basel, Switzerland)2024
Consumption of Citric Acid by Bees Promotes the Gland Development and Enhances Royal Jelly Quality.
Article in Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.
- Recent Advances in 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-HDA): Biosynthesis, Biological Functions, and Regulatory Mechanisms in Honeybees.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Organic Acid Supplementation in Worker Honeybees (Insects · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The glands of bees are responsible for generating and secreting various biologically active substances that significantly impact bee physiological health and adaptability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding citric acid (CA) to bee feed on gland development and royal jelly quality. By formulating feed with varying proportions of CA, evaluation was undertaken of pollen feeding by honeybees under laboratory conditions, along with the impact of CA on the development of major glands, to determine suitable addition proportions. Further optimization of the CA proportion involved feeding colonies and evaluating royal jelly production and quality. The results indicated that feed containing 0.75% CA significantly extended the lifespan of bees and increased their pollen consumption. Gland development in bees showed a positive correlation with CA addition within the range of 0.25% to 0.75%, especially at 0.50% and 0.75%, which notably accelerated the development of mandibular, hypopharyngeal, and cephalic salivary glands, with active proliferation and differentiation of glandular cells and maintenance of normal gland size and morphology. CA added to feed stimulated vigorous secretion of wax glands in worker bees, resulting in prolific wax construction. Colonies consuming feed containing 0.50% CA produced royal jelly with significantly reduced moisture and total sugar content and increased levels of 10-HDA, total phenolic acids, total proteins, and acidity. These findings demonstrate that CA consumption significantly prolongs bee lifespan, increases consumption, promotes gland development, and enhances royal jelly quality. This research provides theoretical guidance for beekeeping practices and feed development, contributing to the sustainable advancement of apiculture.
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Registered trials
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