Deliver More Quercetin to Your Cells

Quercetin has become a popular supplement for good reason.

Studies show that quercetin, a plant flavonoid functions in several ways, including:^1-5

• Promoting better cardiovascular health,
• Protecting cognitive function,
• Improving metabolic health, and
• Helping rid the body of dysfunctional senescent cells.

Standard or unformulated quercetin has relatively low bioavailability. That means that little of it gets into the blood and cells following consumption.

In recent years, scientists have developed various ways to improve quercetin's bioavailability.

In a new development, scientists have created an innovative method to further increase quercetin's bioavailability.

In a human study, a novel quercetin compound was shown to boost total bioavailability up to 62 times compared to unformulated quercetin.⁶

This new formulation also delivered 18 times more bioactive free quercetin than unformulated quercetin.⁶

A Better Quercetin

For many people, there's an obstacle to getting the full benefits of quercetin: Standard quercetin suffers from poor bioavailability.

Much of what is consumed never makes it into the bloodstream and to cells where it could help.

A randomized placebo-controlled study found that bioavailability of quercetin has reached new heights.

This quercetin is first encapsulated in plant-derived particles called micelles.

These micelles are then combined with a hydrogel made from a non-digestible fiber found in fenugreek seeds called galactomannans. This fiber hydrogel acts as a scaffold for the micelles, protecting them and the quercetin within.

This formulation significantly improves the bioavailability of quercetin.

In a clinical trial, healthy adults received either unformulated quercetin or the new galactomannan hydrogel formulation. With the new formula, the bioavailability of quercetin was found to be up to 62 times greater compared to unformulated.⁶

In addition, the peak concentration of quercetin in the blood was greater and the half-life more than doubled. This means that more quercetin makes it into the bloodstream and stays there longer, giving it time to be absorbed into tissues and cells where it can exert its benefits.

The hydrogel quercetin not only increases the total quercetin absorbed, but increased the amount of free quercetin in the blood as well.

Importance of Free Quercetin

When quercetin is absorbed into the body, much of it is chemically bound to other compounds (conjugated).

Conjugated forms of quercetin have some health benefits, but increasing free quercetin, which is unbound to other compounds, may offer additional benefits.

This has been shown in animal studies. In one, scientists gave quercetin to two groups of rats with high blood pressure.⁷ Through experimental manipulation, they were able to ensure that one group had more free quercetin than the other.

The group without free quercetin had no significant change in blood pressure, while the group with more free quercetin had a nearly 30% drop in average blood pressure.

This suggests that the presence of free quercetin in the body may be essential for certain health benefits. This may be due to free quercetin's ability to cross membranes into cells more readily than bound forms.

Unformulated quercetin yields relatively low levels of free quercetin in the blood, potentially limiting its benefits.⁶

This hydrogel form of quercetin changes all that. It is the first formulation to demonstrate significantly higher blood levels of free quercetin, leading to amounts approximately 18 times higher compared to unformulated quercetin.⁶

Benefits of Quercetin

Flavonoids are compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

A diet high in flavonoids is associated with better health, lower risk for many age-related chronic conditions, and reduced rates of death.^8-13

Quercetin is one of the most abundant flavonoids found in plant-based foods, including onions, kale, broccoli, and apples.^1-5

Hundreds of cell, animal, and human studies of quercetin have shown a range of effects, including:^1-5

• Anti-inflammatory action,
• Anti-microbial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses,
• Anti-cancer properties,
• Anti-diabetic effects,
• Metabolic improvements including reduced blood pressure, anti-obesity effects, and improved blood lipids,
• Protection of blood vessel health, including anti-atherosclerosis activity,
• Neuroprotective actions, including protecting the brain from cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and
• Protecting the heart and reducing risk for cardiovascular disease.

Meta-analyses of human trials found that daily quercetin intake significantly decreased systolic (top number) and diastolic blood pressure in patients with metabolic disease and with high blood pressure.^14,15

One meta-analysis of human trials also found that taking quercetin for at least eight weeks improved lipid profiles by increasing protective HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and decreasing triglycerides in patients with metabolic disease or obesity.¹⁴

Another found that quercetin reduced total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation) in patients with metabolic disease.¹⁶

Many more clinical trials of quercetin for various conditions are currently underway. At the time of publication, a National Institutes of Health website (clinicaltrials.gov) lists 44 human trials of quercetin in the U.S. alone.

Summary

Many people take quercetin for its potential to improve health and extend life.

Unformulated forms of quercetin have poor bioavailability.

A novel formulation protects quercetin in the gut. This enables a major increase in the amount of absorbed bioavailable quercetin and the time it stays in the body.

In addition, this new formula increases blood levels of bioactive free quercetin beyond unformulated quercetin and previously available forms.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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