Supports cellular health and immune function.
Quercetin is a natural compound found in foods like apples and onions. It's popular in supplements for its potential to support cellular health and immune function. This plant-based multitasker is often used in gut, brain, liver, and hormone health products.
About Quercetin
What Quercetin Does
Quercetin is a flavonoid, a type of plant compound, that acts as an antioxidant. It helps cells manage daily stresses and environmental challenges. Often paired with vitamin C or bromelain, it enhances absorption in the body.
Immune and Inflammatory Support
In many gut formulas, quercetin modulates immune responses. It’s particularly useful for those dealing with seasonal irritants, as it influences enzymes linked with inflammation, which often starts in the gut.
Histamine and Allergy Influence
Researchers study quercetin’s role in regulating histamine release, potentially reducing allergy-like symptoms. It also supports brain health and blood vessel maintenance, making it a common ingredient in supplements targeting brain aging and liver support.
Challenges in Absorption
Your body doesn’t easily absorb quercetin, so supplement makers often include enhancers like vitamin C or bromelain. Specific forms, such as quercetin dihydrate, improve gut absorption.
Related Products
Formulated With
Learn about other ingredients that Quercetin is used alongside throughout the LVLUP range.
Detailed Information
Pharmacological Profile
Quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) has a broad pharmacological profile due to its polyphenolic structure. It enables free radical scavenging and metal-ion chelation. Quercetin downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis by inhibiting NF-κB activation and suppresses COX and LOX enzyme activity.
Cellular Mechanisms
At the cellular level, quercetin stabilizes mast cells by preventing antigen-induced histamine release. This occurs through modulation of intracellular calcium flux and disruption of tyrosine phosphorylation signaling cascades.
Bioavailability Challenges
Quercetin’s bioavailability is limited by rapid phase II metabolism within enterocytes and hepatocytes. Co-administration with piperine or bromelain enhances systemic exposure. Glycosylated forms in foods have different absorption kinetics compared to aglycone forms.
Neuroprotective Effects
Quercetin activates Nrf2-mediated transcriptional responses, increasing cellular resilience against oxidative injury. This may reduce glutamate excitotoxicity and amyloid-β peptide aggregation, relevant in neurodegenerative disorders.
Current Research
Controlled trials are exploring dose-response relationships for allergy symptom relief, endothelial function improvement, and chronic inflammatory regulation.
