A new study from the University of Bonn has found that a natural compound from red onion skin might help lower blood pressure in people who are overweight or obese.
The compound is called quercetin. It is found in many fruits and vegetables, including red onions, kale, apples, and capers. Quercetin is a type of plant chemical known as a flavonoid, which is known to support heart health.
Quercetin has a slightly bitter taste and is sometimes added to foods or used in supplements. Past research has suggested that it might help prevent heart disease by lowering blood pressure.
In this study, researchers wanted to see how quercetin from red onion skin would affect people who were overweight or obese and had slightly high or moderately high blood pressure.
They chose 70 participants and divided them into two groups. One group took 162 milligrams of quercetin from red onion skin extract every day. The other group received a placebo. The study lasted for six weeks. The researchers checked everyone’s blood pressure at the start and again at the end.
The results were promising. In people with high blood pressure, quercetin lowered their top blood pressure number (called systolic blood pressure) by about 3.6 mmHg compared to the placebo group. It also reduced both daytime and nighttime blood pressure levels.
However, the study found that quercetin did not change other health indicators such as cholesterol, blood sugar, or signs of inflammation. This means that the main benefit of quercetin in this study was lowering blood pressure, not improving overall metabolism or heart health in other ways.
The research team concluded that taking 162 mg of quercetin each day might help protect the heart by lowering blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, this could be a helpful natural option to consider.
Other natural methods, like drinking tea or using herbal supplements, may also help manage blood pressure. In addition, cutting back on added sugar and getting enough vitamin D may improve blood pressure, especially for those with diabetes.
This study was led by Verena Brüll and her team and published in the British Journal of Nutrition. It adds to growing research showing that natural plant compounds like quercetin could support heart health in simple and safe ways.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about breakfast for better blood pressure management, and the gut feeling that lowers blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how the dash diet helps lower blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
