Pine Pollen

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Pine Pollen refers to the pollen of trees in the pinus genera, which are sometimes used as dietary supplements. Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) contains testosterone at levels unlikely to affect the body, while other species may have antiinflammatory properties based on preliminary evidence.

Pine Pollen is most often used for

Summary

Pine pollen is a term used to refer to supplements derived from the pollen of pine trees. Pine trees in general refer to the genera of pinus, and the pollen that is commonly used as a dietary supplement is the Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) due to some studies having detected a testosterone content in this pollen.

In regards to the above, the testosterone content of Scots pine pollen appears to be too low to cause appreciable effects in the human body due to testosterone ingestion despite it being a higher concentration than the testosterone found in Royal Jelly. No studies have been conducted in humans on any parameter related to testosterone such as aphrodisia, muscle growth, or general male vitality.

Pine pollen appears to have a traditional usage in Chinese medicine as well, although the species used have been those available in the region and these are not the Scots pine. These studies are preliminary but suggest a possible antiinflammatory effect that could benefit arthritis, but due to a lack of compositional studies on the pine pollen (ie. what is actually in the pollen that could be mediating the antiinflammatory effects) it is not known if these properties extend to Scots Pine.

Overall, this supplement is heavily underresearched and at this moment in time it cannot be recommended for any particular usage in humans until more studies are conducted.

What else is Pine Pollen known as?
Note that Pine Pollen is also known as:
  • Pinus sylvestris
  • scots pine
  • scotch pine
  • scotch fir

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References
1.^Parducci L, Suyama Y, Lascoux M, Bennett KDAncient DNA from pollen: a genetic record of population history in Scots pineMol Ecol.(2005 Aug)
3.^Wang YM, Wang HJ, Zhang ZYAnalysis of pine pollen by using FTIR, SEM and energy-dispersive X-ray analysisGuang Pu Xue Yu Guang Pu Fen Xi.(2005 Nov)
4.^Mao GX, Zheng LD, Cao YB, Chen ZM, Lv YD, Wang YZ, Hu XL, Wang GF, Yan JAntiaging effect of pine pollen in human diploid fibroblasts and in a mouse model induced by D-galactoseOxid Med Cell Longev.(2012)
9.^Wei H, Li L, Song Q, Ai H, Chu J, Li WBehavioural study of the D-galactose induced aging model in C57BL/6J miceBehav Brain Res.(2005 Feb 28)
11.^Song X, Bao M, Li D, Li YMAdvanced glycation in D-galactose induced mouse aging modelMech Ageing Dev.(1999 May 17)
12.^Lee KH, Kim AJ, Choi EMAntioxidant and antiinflammatory activity of pine pollen extract in vitroPhytother Res.(2009 Jan)
16.^Roux KH, Teuber SS, Sathe SKTree nut allergensInt Arch Allergy Immunol.(2003 Aug)
17.^Gastaminza G, Lombardero M, Bernaola G, Antepara I, Muñoz D, Gamboa PM, Audicana MT, Marcos C, Ansotegui IJAllergenicity and cross-reactivity of pine pollenClin Exp Allergy.(2009 Sep)
19.^Freeman GLPine pollen allergy in northern ArizonaAnn Allergy.(1993 Jun)