Quercetin Supplements and Health Benefits
“Quercetin was found to be second only to resveratrol as a potent activator of the sirtuin gene…Optimal absorption and benefits appear to occur when resveratrol is included with other polyphenols such as quercetin.” – Dr. Joe Maroon, The Longevity Factor
It is one of seventeen (17) compounds discovered by scientists at Harvard Medical School, and reported in 2006, to increase the sirtuin “survival genes” which increase longevity and help decrease age-related diseases.
In the family of polyphenols, quercetin is considered a flavonol and is one of the most active antioxidants found in medicinal plants. In addition to red wine and wine grapes, quercetin-rich foods include apples, black and green tea, onions (particularly the outermost rings), citrus fruits, cherries, and various types of berries.
It is believed that many medicinal plants owe their biological activity to the high content of quercetin. Quercetin has known anti-inflammatory effects and also helps prevent cancer, prostatitis, heart disease, cataracts, allergies, bronchitis, and asthma. It also enhances absorption and prolongs the effects of Resveratrol.
Quercetin extracts in supplements typically come from the flower buds of the Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora Japonica), also known as the scholar tree. It is an extraordinarily hardy tree and can withstand heat, cold, and drought.
Quercetin Supplements:
There are many pure quercetin supplements on the market today. More common are supplements that include quercetin and other polyphenols, such as those found in red wine grapes. Quercetin also interacts with resveratrol to increase its bioavailability – the amount of time it stays in the bloodstream to interact with cells.
Quercetin has been analyzed in many scientific studies and has been found to have a host of medicinal benefits. Some of these studies include:
Quercetin was found to protect against DNA damage. In this Maastricht University study, quercetin supplementation in humans was found to prevent DNA damage, a possible explanation for quercetin’s reported anti-cancer benefits.
Quercetin Found to Help Chronic Prostatitis. In this 1999 study at UCLA, published in the Journal of Urology, quercetin was found to significantly improve symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
Quercetin can prevent multiple forms of cancer. Kyoto University, 2008. Findings of a study on the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of quercetin.
Quercetin prevents disease in stressed subjects. In 2007, researchers at Appalachian State University demonstrated in a DARPA-funded double-blind study that quercetin is capable of reducing illness and maintaining mental performance in physically stressed test subjects.
Quercetin increases resistance to the flu. A study in stressed mice at the University of South Carolina and Clemson University found that quercetin supplementation canceled the reduced flu resistance of stressed mice.
The US Army uses quercetin to protect troops from disease. The military is experimenting with banana and chocolate bars laced with quercetin to protect troops from disease and boost energy.