Quercetin, a plant pigment found in many fruits and vegetables, may help control high blood pressure, according to a study by scientists at the Hospital of Southern Medical University.
The study reviewed 17 clinical studies that tested 896 participants to summarize evidence of the effects of quercetin on cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels in humans.
The results showed that quercetin intake strongly lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but did not have a significant effect on cholesterol or blood sugar levels.
The team found when people consumed quercetin for 8 weeks or more, there were big changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides.
HDL cholesterol absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver to be flushed from the body, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood and can contribute to the hardening of the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
The study has some limitations as the results were from different groups of participants, including healthy people as well as those with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure.
Additionally, the 17 studies reviewed had different designs, target populations, and participant characteristics.
The team says further research is needed to clarify the heart-protective effect of quercetin on people with different risks of heart disease.
In conclusion, the study suggests that quercetin intake can lead to strongly decreased blood pressure in humans and people who consumed quercetin for 8 weeks or more showed significant changes in cholesterol and blood fat levels.
Heart disease and stroke are two related conditions that affect the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and blood vessels.
Heart disease refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and heart valve problems.
These conditions can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and other symptoms, and can increase the risk of heart attack.
Both heart disease and stroke share many risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and obesity.
Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and quitting smoking can help reduce the risk of both conditions. Treatment may include medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery.
If you care about blood pressure health, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing a daily dose of yogurt may keep high blood pressure at bay.
The research is published in Nutrition Reviews and was conducted by Haohai Huang et al.
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