Elemental and statistical analysis of acacia, chestnut, and mountain honey varieties from the Dukagjini region of Kosovo

Abstract

This study analyzed the elemental composition of acacia, chestnut, and mountain honey types from the Dukagjini region of Kosovo. It used Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) to evaluate macro elements, micro elements, and toxic elements in 15 honey samples. The study found significant differences in nutrient content between the three honey types. Statistical analyses were conducted, which showed that analyzing the elemental composition of honey, specifically the levels of Ca, K, Mg, P, and S, can be a valuable approach for distinguishing between different honey types.