Quercetin and resveratrol are both natural supplements that might help to prevent heart disease and cancer. You might also take quercetin for a variety of other medicinal purposes. Because the scientific evidence for these supplements is still highly preliminary, you shouldn't take resveratrol or quercetin without first consulting your doctor.
Uses
Both quercetin and resveratrol are sometimes recommended for treating or preventing cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries." The supplements might also have the potential to prevent cancer. Quercetin has other uses that differ from resveratrol, however. You might take quercetin to help treat viral infections, allergies, asthma and eczema, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Other possible uses of quercetin include treating hypertension, interstitial cystitis and prostatitis. Additionally, quercetin may help in treating cataracts, retinopathy, diabetes, edema, gout and stomach ulcers, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking quercetin or resveratrol to treat or prevent any medical condition.
Functions
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid isolated from plant pigments that has powerful antioxidant actions, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Quercetin mainly comes from green and black teas, apples, onions, beans and certain other vegetables. Resveratrol is also an antioxidant, but it's derived from grape skins and peanuts, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Unlike quercetin, resveratrol also contains phytoestrogen properties, meaning that it is similar in its actions to the hormone estrogen .
Dosages
You might take 200 to 400 mg of quercetin three times per day, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The typical dosage of resveratrol is 200 to 600 micrograms daily, and one glass of red wine contains 640 mcg of resveratrol, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Ask your doctor about the dosage that's right for you before taking quercetin or resveratrol supplements.
Medical Research
A double-blind clinical trial found that taking quercetin can reduce high blood pressure, which contributes directly to heart disease and atherosclerosis, according to a 2007 issue of the Journal of Nutrition. A test-tube study published in the British Journal of Cancer in 1989 discovered that quercetin has inhibitive effects on human leukemia cells, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Resveratrol might also have the potential to prevent heart disease, according to a 1992 study reported in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. Several test-tube studies have also been performed on resveratrol's possible anticancer effects. For example, a 1997 study in the journal Science found that resveratrol extracted from grapes inhibited cancer cells. Additionally, a double-blind clinical trial found that taking 500 mg of quercetin twice per day was effective at treating prostatitis in men, says a 1999 issue of Urology. Presented at the 2001 annual meeting of the American Urological Association, another double-blind trial found that quercetin could relieve interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Warnings
Taking quercetin might not be safe if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, due to the potential risk of birth defects, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Also, a 2000 preliminary study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that quercetin might cause infant leukemia if you take it during pregnancy. Resveratrol's phytoestrogenic properties could promote the spread of breast cancer cells, so you should avoid taking the supplement if you have, have had or are at a high risk of having breast cancer, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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