A STRONG HEART BECAUSE OF QUERCETIN

What happens if a person uses quercetin supplements alone and how does it affect their blood pressure? The University of Utah created a study in 2007 to answer this question. Nineteen students in the study had pre-hypertension and there were twenty-two more students with stage 1 hypertension. Each student was supplemented with either a placebo or 730 mg quercetin per day for a total of 28 days. Pre-hypertensive patients were not affected by the supplements. However, the hypertensive group experienced a reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure averaging 7mm Hg and 5mm Hg reductions, these were meaningful changes that lowered the vascular disease risk.

A second study in 2008, a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 12 healthy men showed biochemical evidence of improved endothelial function with as little as 200 mg/day dosage of quercetin.

When you put these studies together, the results point to how quercetin can carry out an important role in protecting cardiovascular health.

I just found another point I think is significant. There is research that shows quercetin is involved in regulating a gene that protects against LDL cholesterol oxidation. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) protects low-density lipoprotein (LD) cholesterol from the oxidation process. PON1 is a major anti-atherosclerotic protein component of the “good” cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

In one study, researchers investigated the role quercetin played in regulating gene PON1 expression in rats. In short, the researchers found the rats receiving quercetin had an increased expression of PON1 by 35%, and serum PON1 increase of 29%. The study’s author concluded, “Our data suggests that quercetin has anti-atherogenic effect by up-regulating PON1 gene expression and its protective capacity against LDL oxidation.

Let me add one other thought. Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory supplement. Inflammation has a direct affect on the total coronary and will kill you if it is not controlled. But, the inflammation does not limit itself to just the coronary system. If you have sore joints, it is because of inflammation. Therefore, quercetin has a very broad impact on the body.