A comprehensive study of clinical trials on the health benefits of quercetin highlights the effects on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Quercetin is a plant-derived chemical compound that is found in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs including raspberries, red onions, kale, and fennel. Taking quercetin supplements is thought to improve health due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
While there have been a number of studies to examine the health benefits of quercetin, the results of the studies have not been consistent or conclusive. To address this gap in information, researchers from Dongguan Shilong People’s Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangdong, China conducted an extensive and critical appraisal of existing research on the benefits of quercetin on cardiovascular health. The researchers included 17 clinical trials from a period of 20 years and carried out in six different countries. The pooled data from all the studies included 896 individuals who participated in clinical trials that studied the effect of quercetin on various markers of cardiovascular health such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
The systematic review revealed that quercetin intake was linked to lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. Additional analyses showed that daily quercetin consumption over eight weeks reduced triglyceride levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels. Quercetin intake did not appear to have any effect on reducing blood sugar levels.
This comprehensive analysis supports the belief that quercetin supplements can help in reducing high blood pressure. While quercetin was also able to improve lipid profile, it must be noted that the effects of quercetin on reducing triglyceride levels and increasing HDL cholesterol were only observed in trials that had a specific study design and in individuals who took the supplements for over eight weeks.
Written by Bhavana Achary, Ph.D
References:
Haohai Huang, Dan Liao, Yong Dong, Rong Pu, Effect of quercetin supplementation on plasma lipid profiles, blood pressure, and glucose levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Nutrition Reviews.
News release retrieved from – https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/oupu-ppc011520.php
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