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Quercetin & Tumors

Jul 11, 2011 | By Joanne Marie
Quercetin & Tumors
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Groups of abnormal cells that grow at a high rate may produce tumors that can crowd out normal tissue if they become large. A tumor may be benign or malignant; the latter is composed of cancerous cells and can cause a serious, life-threatening condition. Quercetin is a natural, plant-derived compound that may help prevent growth of tumors or slow their growth when tumors are already present. Talk to your doctor about quercetin to discuss if you should add it to your regimen.

Symptoms and Causes

The symptoms of a tumor depend on the location of the tumor. For example, a lung tumor may cause coughing or chest pain, while a tumor in the intestines may cause digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or bloody stools. Some tumors, such as those that arise in the pancreas, cause no symptoms until they have become serious. Abnormal cells that divide rapidly cause a tumor to form, and if the cells are cancerous, the tumor is malignant and its cells may spread far from their original location. Any tumor may become large, crowding out normal tissues and interfering with the function of organs.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a type of natural compound called a flavonoid. Flavonoids have significant antioxidant activity, removing potentially dangerous free radicals from your organs and tissues. Free radicals are byproducts of metabolism that may damage cellular DNA, producing changes in genetic material than might trigger cancer. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, people who eat lots of fruits and vegetables rich in quercetin have lower rates of certain cancerous tumors.

Research

Laboratory studies have shown that quercetin may stop cells from becoming cancerous and causing malignant tumors. For example, in a paper published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in 2011, researchers found that quercetin blocks the ability of a carcinogenic chemical to induce cancerous changes in the liver cells of laboratory animals. In a clinical study published in "International Journal of Cancer" in 2007, investigators concluded that consumption of quercetin and other flavonoids resulted in a lowered incidence of ovarian tumors in more than 66,000 women who took part in the study.

Recommendations

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is a natural strategy to increase your intake of quercetin. Alternatively, quercetin supplements are available from health food stores in capsules. Quercetin is generally considered a safe supplement, although it may cause headache or stomach upset in some people. Do not take quercetin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Quercetin may interact with some medications, such as blood thinners or certain antibiotics. Consult your doctor to discuss whether quercetin is a good choice for you.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: Jul 11, 2011

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