Quercetin finds itself in a number of Sanctuary protocols due to the multiplicity of benefits it has to offer. It boasts effects in ameliorating allergies, preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol, assisting in metal detoxification, and providing anti-oxidant protection.
Allergies: The easiest and most common use of quercetin comes up when helping patients overcome a variety of allergies. Whether suffering from sinus issues, food sensitivities, or mast cell activation, quercetin can help shift our bodies away from the histamine which underlies allergic reactions. On one hand, it can inhibit release of histamine from mast cells (immune cells). On another hand, it can also lower IgE reactions which trigger histamine release.
Cholesterol: Oxidation of LDL cholesterol appears to underlie advancing atherosclerosis. Once oxidized, this LDL then triggers the immune system to cause arterial wall inflammation. By reducing LDL oxidation, atherosclerosis can be prevented. In a study by Graf et al, cardiovascular mortality was even reduced with quercetin intake. This seemed to be related to its scavenging free radicals and chelating metals.
Metals Detoxification: Quercetin remarkably finds a way to also protect animals from lead and cadmium toxicity through a variety of mechanisms. These include methallothionein, nitric oxide synthases, COX-2, MAPK, and NF-kappaB.
Antioxidant: Quercetin boasts major antioxidant capacity. It is comparable to curcumin in its scope.
How to Get the Benefits of Quercetin: It is found in apples, apricots, blueberries, yellow onions, kale, alfalfa sprouts, green beans, broccoli, black tea, and chili powder. Be aware however that supplementation is necessary for clinical disease treatment. Foods may be adequate for prevention.
Allergies:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314669/
Weng, Zuyi et al. “Quercetin is more effective than cromolyn in blocking human mast cell cytokine release and inhibits contact dermatitis and photosensitivity in humans” PloS one vol. 7,3 (2012): e33805.
Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5). pii: E623. doi: 10.3390/molecules21050623.
Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response.
Mlcek J1, Jurikova T2, Skrovankova S3, Sochor J4.
Cholesterol:
Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2014 May 27;11:22. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-11-22. eCollection 2014.
Quercetin intake with exercise modulates lipoprotein metabolism and reduces atherosclerosis plaque formation.
Garelnabi M1, Mahini H1, Wilson T1.
Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2017 Feb 3;8:40. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00040. eCollection 2017.
Quercetin Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammation and ox-LDL-Induced Lipid Deposition.
Xue F1, Nie X2, Shi J3, Liu Q1, Wang Z4, Li X2, Zhou J5, Su J4, Xue M1, Chen WD6, Wang YD4.
Graf B Flavonols, flavonones & human health: epidemiological evidence Journal of Medicinal Food 2005; 8: 281-90
Metal Detox:
Hu P Quercetin relieves chronic lead exposure-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity in rat gentate gyrus in vivo. Naunyn Schlmiederbergs Archives Pharmacology 2008 Jul; 378(1): 43-51
Vicente-Sánchez C., Egido J., Sánchez-González P.D., Pérez-Barriocanal F., López-Novoa J.M., Morales A.I. Effect of the flavonoid quercetin on cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity. Food Chemistry. Toxicol. 2008;46:2279–2287. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.03.009.
Morales A.I., Vicente-Sánchez C., Jerkic M., Santiago J.M., Sánchez-González P.D., Pérez-Barriocanal F., López-Novoa J.M. Effect of quercetin on metallothionein, nitric oxide synthases and cyclooxygenase-2 expression on experimental chronic cadmium nephrotoxicity in rats. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2006;210:128–135. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2005.09.006.
Liu C.M., Zheng G., Ming Q., Sun J., Cheng C. Protective effect of quercetin on lead-induced oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in rat liver via the IRE1/JNK and PI3K/Akt pathway. Free Radical Research. 2013;47:192–201. doi: 10.3109/10715762.2012.760198.
Liu C.M., Sun Y.Z., Sun J.M., Ma J.Q., Cheng C. Protective role of quercetin against lead-induced inflammatory response in rat kidney through the ROS-mediated MAPKs and NF-κB pathway. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 2012;1820:1693–1703. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2012.06.011.
Malešev D., Kuntić V. Investigation of metal-flavonoid chelates and the determination of flavonoids via metal-flavonoid complexing reactions. J. Serbian Chem. Soc. 2007;72:921–939. doi: 10.2298/JSC0710921M.
Antioxidant:
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2011;701:283-9. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7756-4_38.
Antioxidant properties of quercetin.
Zhang M1, Swarts SG, Yin L, Liu C, Tian Y, Cao Y, Swarts M, Yang S, Zhang SB, Zhang K, Ju S, Olek DJ Jr, Schwartz L, Keng PC, Howell R, Zhang L, Okunieff P.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more… offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.