About Bioflavonoids

Although flavonoids or bioflavonoids are not vitamins in the truest sense, nutritionists often refer to them collectively as vitamin P. According to the Produce for Better Health Foundation, "bioflavonoids are one of the most potent and abundant antioxidants in our diet." Bioflavonoids are essential for the absorption of vitamin C, and these two nutrients should always be taken together. The human body does not produce bioflavonoids, so they must come from your diet.

Therapeutic Uses

Bioflavonoids and vitamin C are helpful in the treatment of pain related to athletic injuries, such as bruising, leg and back pain. According to John Kirschmann, author of the "Nutrition Almanac," bioflavonoids act synergistically with vitamin C to protect and preserve the structure of capillaries, so this nutrient is helpful in promoting healthy circulation. Flavonoids also have antibacterial properties.

Most Pravelent Bioflavonoids

The most important bioflavonoids include myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin, herperetin, naringenin, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, cyaniding, dephinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin and peonidin. This list of 16, available in fruits and vegetables, seem to have the greatest effect on human health, out of over 4,000 that have been identified.

Sources

A few sources of bioflavonoids include peppers, buckwheat and the white fibrous material just beneath the peel of citrus fruits. Additional sources include apricots, blackberries, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, numerous citrus fruits, plums and prunes. Herbs that contain bioflavonoids include elderberry, hawthorn berry and rosehips.

Disease Prevention

Bioflavonoids stimulate bile production and lower cholesterol levels, which is helpful in the prevention of heart disease. They are also effective in the treatment and prevention of cataracts. According to the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," flavonoids are extremely effective antioxidants and may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung and prostate cancer, asthma and type 2 diabetes.