In a new study, researchers found that intake of the flavonoid quercetin can greatly reduce high blood pressure in patients suffering from heart disease.
The research was conducted by a team at Dongguan Third People’s Hospital in China and elsewhere.
Quercetin is a plant pigment commonly found in many plants and foods, such as onions, teas, apples, and red wine.
The researchers reviewed multiple studies that assessed the impact of quercetin on blood pressure and glucose levels.
Each study assessed blood glucose, total cholesterol, and/or insulin. 17 studies with a total of 886 participants were included.
The team found that quercetin could strongly reduce systolic blood pressure.
Participants who consumed quercetin for eight weeks or more showed strongly changed levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Quercetin did not influence total cholesterol or alter fasting blood glucose concentrations.
In addition, quercetin was not found to cause serious adverse events in any of the included studies.
A reduction in blood pressure of more than 10 mmHg lowers heart disease risk by 50% for heart failure, 35% – 40% for stroke, and approximately 20% to 25% for heart attack.
The team confirmed that the favorable effects of quercetin on blood pressure support the use of quercetin for patients with high blood pressure.
The lead author of the study is Haohai Huang from Dongguan Third People’s Hospital.
The study is published in Nutrition Reviews.
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