Health Hotline Magazine | April 2024

flow, and health-related quality of life. Results showed that from baseline to week 40, there was a significant improvement in the quercetin group com pared to the placebo group in reaction time. The researchers concluded that the improvement in reaction time indicates that quercetin helped improve the ability to process information and stay focused. Furthermore, by attaching an oxygen monitor to the participants’ forehead, the researchers also discovered that cere bral blood flow and volume significantly decreased in the placebo group, but not in the quercetin group. This indicates that the quercetin group maintained healthy blood flow to the brain. The researchers also suggested that the effects of quercetin on blood flow could be due to its action on supporting vascular function. Quercetin Is a Cardiovascular and Blood Vessel Champion In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 93 overweight or obese subjects aged 25–65 with metabolic syndrome were randomly selected to receive 150 mg of quercetin or a placebo for six weeks. In contrast to the placebo group, quercetin decreased systolic blood pressure in all subgroups, including hyperten sive subjects, and in the subgroup of younger adults aged 25–50 years. Quercetin also significantly decreased plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol in the overweight subjects with high CVD risk factors. Quercetin combats CVD in another key way. Atherosclerosis is the disease of the arteries characterized by the buildup of cholesterol plaques on their inner walls, thereby obstructing blood flow. In a study examining aortic samples with atherosclerotic disease, when quercetin was applied to the affected samples, the flavo noid specifically accumulated in the injured aorta. These observations suggest that quercetin exerts anti-ath erosclerotic activities, including the inhibition of foam cell formation in the aorta, which is known to progress to atherosclerosis. Quercetin, PCOS, & Fertility It is estimated that five to six million women suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of infertility. Women with PCOS tend to have reduced total antioxidant levels and higher oxidative stress. Enter in the “queue” quercetin, whose unique constituents have been shown to decrease inflammation, balance hormone function, and improve pregnancy outcomes in those suffering from PCOS. A 2023 randomized clinical study sought to discover if quercetin could be beneficial in improving hormone parameters and pregnancy out comes in PCOS patients. In the study, 72 women diagnosed with PCOS were either given 500 mg of quercetin per day for 40 days or a placebo. Those in the quercetin group saw an improvement in the health of the oocyte (immature egg cell), embryo grade, and overall pregnancy rate. Hormone levels—including what’s known as the Quercetin can also make your heart do a happy dance. It reduces the risk of cardiovas cular disease (CVD) by lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decreasing total and LDL cholesterol levels. It’s even been suggested to be a key component in the cardiovascular-protective element of eating the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular diseases on the whole.

luteinizing hormone (LH), impacting follicular growth, egg maturation, and ovula tion—were all improved in those taking quercetin. The study concluded, “Reg ular consumption of quercetin has been shown to decrease inflammatory and LH parameters, making it beneficial for the management of PCOS and related diseases.” With its wide-ranging, whole-body implications, quercetin has the power to unlock a wealth of health benefits!

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