Quercetin is a polyphenolic flavonoid that's found in buckwheat, apples, onions and certain teas. As a flavonoid, quercetin is a substance that gives most fruits and vegetables their pigmentation. Unlike vitamins, quercetin isn't an essential nutrient, although it does provide many health benefits. Before you begin taking a quercetin supplement, talk with your doctor about the possible health dangers.
Function
Like other flavonoids, quercetin helps improve your body's absorption and metabolism of vitamin C, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Quercetin also provides strong antioxidant actions and is considered a semi-nutrient that isn't essential to life like vitamins, but it's important for supporting overall health, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. As an antioxidant, quercetin acts to protect your body from damage due to free radicals. Quercetin could potentially provide anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular-protective, antihistamine and anticancer actions as well, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Uses
The most common medicinal uses for quercetin are for suppressing allergic responses, hay fever, hives and asthma, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Quercetin is sometimes also used for treating prostatitis due to its anti-inflammatory properties, notes the University of Michigan Health System. The flavonoid might help in treating high cholesterol, high blood pressure, interstitial cystitis and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Talk with your physician before taking quercetin for any medical purpose.
Potential
Quercetin's various functions and actions in the body lend it the potential to prevent or treat cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The substance's cholesterol-lowering actions may prevent arterial plaque buildup and help reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Quercetin may also act as an antiviral and possibly help treat eczema. Other potential uses for quercetin include treating capillary fragility, cataracts, peptic ulcers, retinopathy, gout, edema, diabetes and certain childhood diseases, notes the University of Michigan Health System. However, no conclusive scientific evidence supports the use of quercetin for treating or preventing any of these medical conditions.
Dosage
You can get quercetin from consuming onions, apples, grapefruits, black tea, red wine, beans and leafy green vegetables, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Quercetin is also found in green tea, parsley, dark berries and cherries, olive oil and grapes. The therapeutic doses are much higher than the amounts you would get from your diet. In pill or tablet form, you might take 200mg to 500mg quercetin two or three times daily, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Different types of quercetin are available, such as quercetin chalcone and hesperidn-methyl-chalcone -- HMC. Your dosage may vary depending on the specific therapeutic use. For example, you might take 500mg quercetin twice daily to help treat interstitial cystitis or 250mg to 600mg daily to reduce allergy symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Because quercetin helps your vitamin C absorption, you might take the supplement along with extra vitamin C. Ask your doctor about the dosage amount that's right for you before taking quercetin.
Warning
Quercetin supplements may not be safe for pregnant women, because there's a chance the supplement may increase the risks for infant leukemia and birth defects. You may experience side effects such as stomach upset and headaches while taking quercetin, and at very high doses you could develop kidney damage, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Quercetin supplements could also interact negatively with certain medications, such as blood-thinners like Coumadin and aspirin, chemotherapy drugs, cyclosporine and corticosteroids.
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