Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that may manifest itself in different ways. In general, if your have lupus, your immune system erroneously attacks some of your cells and tissues, much as it would attack foreign substances or microorganisms. Quercetin is a type of plant pigment called a flavonoid that may help relieve symptoms of lupus by suppressing inflammation. Discuss quercetin with your doctor to decide if it might help you.
Symptoms and Risk Factors
In lupus, some of your immune cells attack your tissues and organs, causing many different symptoms. These can include swelling and pain in your joints, muscular pain, loss of hair, extreme fatigue, mouth ulcers, fever and skin rashes. Occasionally, lupus also causes extreme sensitivity to sun exposure. Although the exact cause of lupus is still not known, it may involve inheritance of certain genes. Women are also at higher risk for lupus than men, as are African Americans, Hispanics and Asians, compared to Caucasians.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables that may help reduce some of the symptoms of lupus. The compound is a potent antioxidant that protects your body from free radicals. These potentially harmful byproducts of metabolism can damage cellular components, including DNA and membranes, and even kill cells. Quercetin also suppresses inflammation, a process initiated in lupus when immune cells release chemicals that cause swelling of tissues and damage to organs and joints.
Mechanism
According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, quercetin inhibits two enzymes called lipoxygenase and cycloxygenase, suppressing production by immune cells of two types of inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes and histamines. Several laboratory studies indicate that quercetin suppresses inflammation, including one published in 2001 in "Farmaco" in which inflammation was significantly reduced in laboratory animals fed quercetin. Although these findings are promising, clinical research on quercetin and human subjects with lupus is still needed.
Sources and Recommendations
Citrus fruits, apples, blueberries, blackberries, onions, tea and red wine are particularly rich in quercetin. To increase your intake of the compound, add these foods to your diet regularly. Alternatively, quercetin supplements are available from most health food stores, with a recommended dosage of between 100 and 600 mg daily, in divided doses. The supplement is generally considered safe, although it may interact with some prescription medications. Do not consume quercetin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and do not consume doses higher than 1 g per day. Talk to your doctor about quercetin before adding it to your regimen.
References
- National Institue of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupus
- MedlinePlus: Lupus
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Quercetin
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Quercetin
- "Farmaco"; Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Plant Flavonoids. Effects of Rutin, Quercetin and Hesperidin...; T. Guardia, et al.; September 2001
