Quercetin
Quercetin is a representative flavonoid found in many
plants including citrus fruit, tea, onion, and apples. Quercetin has been made in capsule form as a
dietary supplement for quite some time. It has been shown to have several beneficial biological/pharmaceutical effects,
including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer.
Most
of the research on quercetin and cancer has been done in cell culture (in vitro studies) or animal studies (in vivo studies). One must be cautious
that these studies are not equivalent to human clinical trials. In vitro studies indicate that quercetin
can slow the growth of some cancer cells. Clinical studies indicate its involvement in
tyrosine kinase inhibition but there is no solid
clinical evidence indicating that quercetin can prevent or treat cancer.
Some
studies suggested potential protective value for quercetin in prostatitis
(inflamed prostate), heart disease, and cancer. However, it is not clear what role quercetin played in their
findings. All these sound exciting;
however, further clinical studies are needed before any scientific conclusions
can be made. Nevertheless, it is not a
bad idea to include foods that contain quercetin as part of a balanced diet
with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
© Jiajiu Shaw, 2016
Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.
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