Scientists in China have found new evidence that a natural compound found in many fruits and vegetables may help lower blood pressure.
The compound is called quercetin. It is a plant pigment known for its antioxidant powers, and it might offer a simple and natural way to support heart health.
The study, led by researchers at the Hospital of Southern Medical University and published in Nutrition Reviews, looked at results from 17 clinical trials involving a total of 896 people. The goal was to see how quercetin affects blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar—three important signs of heart health.
One of the biggest findings was that people who took quercetin had lower blood pressure. It helped reduce both systolic blood pressure (the top number) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). Lowering both numbers is important because high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
However, the study didn’t find strong evidence that quercetin improves cholesterol or blood sugar overall.
But when people took quercetin for eight weeks or more, their HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) went up, and their triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) went down. This suggests that quercetin may offer more benefits when taken for a longer time.
HDL cholesterol helps clear “bad” cholesterol from the blood, lowering the risk of heart disease. High triglycerides can raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. So any improvement in these numbers is a good sign.
Still, the researchers noted that the study had some limits. The 17 trials included different kinds of people—some were healthy, while others had diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure.
Because of this variety, the results may not apply to everyone in the same way. The scientists say we need more studies to better understand how quercetin works for different people.
Even with these limits, the findings are important. Heart disease and stroke are two of the top causes of death around the world. They share common risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and being overweight. Managing these risks can help prevent serious health problems.
Heart disease includes problems like clogged arteries, weak heart muscles, or irregular heartbeats. It can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and tiredness.
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing damage that can lead to problems with speech, movement, or even death. Since high blood pressure plays a major role in both of these conditions, finding ways to lower it is very important.
Along with medicine, simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Eating more fruits and vegetables, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and keeping a healthy weight are all great ways to protect your heart. Adding quercetin as a supplement could give extra support.
In summary, this research suggests that quercetin may be a helpful natural way to lower blood pressure and possibly improve other heart-related health markers. While more studies are needed, quercetin could become a valuable part of staying healthy and preventing heart disease and stroke in the future.
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