Quercetin supplementation can help patients at risk of developing gout
- Lizette Rios
- Feb 28, 2018
- 4 min read
Introduction
This study looked at treating patients with Quercetin who were at risk of developing gout.
Gout – is a form of arthritis that occurs due to high levels of uric acid in the blood. Men are affected by it more frequently than women. Symptoms include pain, swelling tenderness and redness of the joints, due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals.
Quercetin – is a flavonoid from plants, it can be found in high concentrations in black tea, apples and onions.
Methods
This was a double-blind study, meaning individuals did not know whether they were consuming the placebo or the supplement.
Scientists also conducted a cross-over trial, meaning after treatment with either Quercetin or Placebo for 4 weeks, there were 4 weeks of no treatment and then a crossover of participants. The individuals that were first treated with Quercetin, for the next 4 weeks were then treated with Placebo and the prior Placebo participants were then treated with Quercetin.
The placebo is a harmless pill that has no physiological effect on the individual.
Scientists analyzed the following pre-treatment (before supplementation), during and post-treatment (after supplementation):
Urine samples
Fasting blood samples
Blood pressure
Questionnaire
Results
Blood pressure example: 120/80 mmHg
systolic = is the first number, it measures pressure in blood vessels when the heart beats
diastolic = is the second number, it measures pressure in blood vessels when the heart rests between beats
Plasma Uric Acid – concentration of uric acid levels in the plasma (component of blood).
Plasma Glucose – concentration of sugar levels in the plasma (component of blood).
Conclusion
Supplementing with Quercetin (500mg/day) decreased plasma uric acid levels and diastolic blood pressure, which is great news. Plasma glucose and systolic blood pressure remained unchanged for the treated group and the placebo. There were no negative side effects that the patients reported in the treated groups.
Reflection
This experiment used a small sample size, but that is typical for clinical studies. Statistically, this experiment did establish significance, which means the supplement was effective in reducing plasma uric acid levels. It’s always better to have more individuals in a study to confirm significance. Repeating an experiment like this would also be valuable for confirming their results.
Keep in mind that this study did not include individuals that were currently suffering from gouty arthritis but were patients that were at risk of developing gout due to high levels of plasma uric acid.
Will Quercetin still be effective for those that currently have gout? It can be, but this research did not study that.
The supplement can be purchased online or at your local supplement shop. The particular supplement they used in the study was Nature’s Best Quercetin 500mg. The link is below.
You can purchase Quercetin from other vendors as well, but keep in mind that other ingredients may be included or not included, and those particular ingredients may not have been in the supplement for this study. Look closely at the ingredients list and make your comparison/choice.
*Before consuming supplements, consult with a physician, individuals can be affected differently.
Sources
Scientific Article courtesy of:
Shi, Y., & Williamson, G. (2016). Quercetin lowers plasma uric acid in pre-hyperuricaemic males: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 115(05), 800-806. doi:10.1017/s0007114515005310
Image courtesy of:
Gout in Foot? Heres How It Happens-and How to Treat It. (2017, October 18).
Retrieved February 28, 2018, from https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/bones-joints/gout-in-foot/
Image courtesy of:
(n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2018, from http://www.quercegen.com/quercetin-sources.htm
Image courtesy of:
A., Richards, D., & Graham, C. (2018, February 18). Quercetin 500mg.
Retrieved February 28, 2018, from https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/herbs-spices/quercetin/quercetin-500mg/
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