Bioflavonoids (vitamin P)

Bioflavonoids (bioavailable flavonoids, vitamin P) are a class of water-soluble plant pigments with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic properties. This is the collective name given to rutin, hesperidin and quercetin and a range of other naturally occurring compounds including the oligomeric pro-cyanidins found in red wine. Strictly speaking, bioflavonoids are not true vitamins, though they are sometimes referred to as vitamin P. They are essential for the absorption of vitamin C, and the two should be taken together. Bioflavonoids are extremely necessary for the absorption of vitamin C, and bioflavonoids should be taken together. The human body does not produce bioflavonoids, they must be supplied through diet.

Bioflavonoids have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergenic, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic properties. Like vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, bioflavonoids are antioxidants. Antioxidants can rid the body of free radicals, toxic byproducts of chemical reactions that take place in the body every day. The body is exposed to free radicals through exercise, pollution, smoking, and many other factors. Bioflavonoids are often used in vitamin C formulas because they enhance the absorption and action of this vitamin. Bioflavonoids help maximize the benefits of vitamin C by inhibiting its breakdown in the body.

Bioflavonoids (vitamin P) functions, uses, and health benefits

Bioflavonoids work with vitamin C and help to protect this vitamin against oxidation. Bioflavonoids have an antibacterial effect, help better circulation, stimulate bile production, lower cholesterol levels, and treat and prevent cataracts. As antioxidants, bioflavonoids protect LDL-cholesterol from oxidative damage. Bioflavonoids promote the non-specific actions of the immune system. Bioflavonoids are involved in maintaining the health of the collagen that holds the cells together by forming the basement membranes of cells, tissues, and cartilage. Bioflavonoids are used by the body to help strengthen and reduce the permeability of blood vessel walls. Bioflavonoids work with vitamin C in synergy, to protect and preserve the structure of the blood capillaries.

Bioflavonoids relieve pain, which is why they are often used to treat athletic injuries. Bioflavonoids are effectively used in the treatment of sport injuries as they are pain relieving. They may also be used in relieving pain in the legs, across the back, and can lessen the symptoms of prolonged bleeding, a low serum calcium as well as oral herpes. They reduce pain in the legs and across the back. They also reduce the symptoms associated with prolonged bleeding and low serum calcium. The rutin component is particularly good for decreasing bleeding from weak blood vessels.

Rutin can be used to treat chronic venous insufficiency (condition in which blood drains inadequately from a body part), glaucoma, hay fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, poor circulation, oral herpes, cirrhosis, stress, low serum calcium, and for cataracts. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins can be used to treat a number of eye conditions such as cataracts, night blindness, diabetic retinopathy (progressive retina disease that is a complication of diabetes), and macular degeneration (a hereditary condition causing loss of vision). Hesperidin is useful in treating the complaints of menopause and in dealing with the viruses that cause herpes, the flu, and certain respiratory ailments. Hesperidin fights allergic reactions by blocking the release of histamine.

It is particularly helpful in reducing the effects of nitrosamines. Ellagic acid reduces the effects of the toxic and carcinogenic factors (aflatoxins) produced by Aspergillus flavus molds on food. Quercetin is a good antihistamine. It can help reduce the inflammation that results from hay fever, allergies, bursitis, gout, arthritis, and asthma. Catechins and tannins can be used to stimulate detoxification by the liver and to strengthen the blood vessels. They also help reduce the inflammatory response. Kaempferols stimulate liver detoxification and strengthen the blood vessels.

Bioflavonoids (vitamin P) dosage, intake, recommended daily allowance (RDA)

No dosage has been determined but 500 mg per day is indicated for supplementation, typically recommended dosage for women in menopause is 1000 - 1500 milligrams a day.

Sources of bioflavonoids (vitamin P)

Bioflavonoids are abundant in the pulp and rinds of citrus fruits and other foods containing vitamin C, including red wine, green tea, onions, grapefruit seeds, apples, and other fruits and berries. Many medicinal plants contain bioflavonoids such as ginkgo biloba, hawthorn and Chinese scullcap. Citrus flavonoids are found in citrus fruits, rutin in buckwheat, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea, anthocyanidins in bilberry, and naringenin in grapefruit. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins, are found in grape seeds and skins. Quercetin is found in onions, tea, and apples.

Quercetin functions, uses, and health benefits

Quercetin is among the most studied dietary flavonoids, although evidence for a clinical benefit in people remains limited.

Quercetin blocks an enzyme that leads to accumulation of sorbitol, which has been linked to nerve, eye, and kidney damage in those with diabetes.

Quercetin possesses potent antioxidant properties. It protects LDL cholesterol from becoming damaged. Quercetin prevents damage to blood vessels by certain forms of cholesterol and other chemicals produced by the body. LDL cholesterol is an underlying cause of heart disease. Quercetin also works as an antioxidant by scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. People with diabetes are at higher risk of blood vessel damage from free radicals.

Quercetin acts as an antihistamine and has anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin inhibits some inflammatory enzymes, such as lipid peroxidases, and decreases leukotriene formation. Quercetin opposes the actions of the histamines in the body. Histamines are responsible for allergic and inflammatory reactions. It can help reduce the inflammation that results from hay fever, allergies, bursitis, gout, arthritis, and asthma. It may lessen other asthma symptoms.

Quercetin dosage, intake, recommended daily allowance (RDA)

There is no standard dietary recommendation for quercetin intake. General supplementation for adults is 100 to 250 mg three times per day. Quercetin supplements are often packaged with bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple) as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Sources of quercetin

Sources of quercetin include onions, apples, green tea, and black tea. Smaller amounts are found in leafy green vegetables and beans.

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic molecules common to most flowering plants (both flowers and foliage). Flavonoids are ubiquitous in nature and are categorized, according to chemical structure, into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. Many flavonoids are easily recognised as flower pigments in most angiosperm families (flowering plants). However, their occurence is not restricted to flowers but include all parts of the plant. Natural flavonoids are often attached to sugars (i.e. they are flavonoid glycosides) which affect their biological properties.

A few thousand different flavonoids have so far been identified. Many of these compounds serve as antioxidants or play other important roles in maintaining the health of body. One characteristic of nearly all flavonoids is that they enhance the functionality of vitamin C, itself a powerful antioxidant. They are sometimes (redundantly) called bioflavonoids. Some of the well-known supplements, such as genistein in soy, and quercetin in onions, are also flavonoids.

Although they are all structurally related, their functions are different. Flavonoids also include hesperidin, rutin, citrus flavonoids, and a variety of other supplements. Quercetin is a flavonoid that serves as the backbone for many other flavonoids, including the citrus flavonoids rutin, quercitrin, and hesperidin. Quercetin is consistently the most active of the flavonoids in experimental studies, and many medicinal plants owe much of their activity to their high quercitin content.

Flavonoids health benefits

As a class of compounds, flavonoids have been referred to as "nature's biological response modifiers" because of their ability to modify the body's reaction to other compounds such as allergens, viruses, and carcinogenic properties. In addition, flavonoids act as powerful antioxidants by providing remarkable protection against oxidative and free-radical damage.

Many of the medicinal actions of foods, juices, herbs, and bee pollen are directly related to their flavonoid content. Although not considered vitamins, flavonoids have a number of nutritional functions have been described as biological response modifiers; most act as antioxidants, and some have anti-inflammatory properties.

Quercetin has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity because of direct inhibition of several initial processes of inflammation. For example, it inhibits both the manufacture and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory mediators. In addition, it exerts potent antioxidant activity and vitamin C-sparing action. Quercetin's proven anti-inflammatory properties help the body counter allergic reactions to pollen. Quercetin also seems to reduce inflammation in the lungs and other air passages, making breathing easier.

In addition to possesing antioxidant activity and an ability to increase intracellular levels of vitamin C, rutin, and hesperidin exert many beneficial effects on capillary permeability and blood flow. They exhibit also some of the anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory benefits of quercetin. Green tea polyphenols are potent antioxidant compounds that have demonstrated greater antioxidant protection than vitamins C and E. Green tea may also increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Proanthocyanidins extracts demonstrate a wide range of pharmacological activity. They increase intracellular vitamin C levels, decrease capillary permeability and fragility, scavenge oxidants and free radicals, inhibit destruction of collagen the most abundant protein in the body. The flavonoid rutin has been found to help prevent stomach ulcers by protecting the stomach lining. Flavonoids have also been shown to reduce the 'stickiness' of blood platelets and thus reduce the formation of blood clots, which reduces the risks of certain cardiovascular diseases.

Quercetin is a yellow powdered crystalline compound produced synthetically or occurring as a glycoside in the rind and bark of numerous plants, used medicinally to treat abnormal capillary fragility. Also called meletin. Quercetin is classed as a type of 'phytoestrogen', which are oestrogen-like chemicals that occur in some plants. Quercetin also works as an antioxidant by scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Flavonoids are the agents responsible for the pigment in foods derived from plants. The primary sources of quercetin are red grape juice, grapefruit, onions, black tea, and apples. Lesser amounts are found in other fruits and vegetables.

Quercetin health benefits

Quercetin may inhibit the overproduction of both nitric oxide and protein-tyrosine kinase. Quercetin inhibits the production and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory substances. Histamines are responsible for allergic and inflammatory reactions. The body may use quercetin to strengthen the mast cells, involved in the release of histamine, potentially inhibiting that activity. Free radicals are thought to contribute to the development of certain eye disorders including cataracts and macular degeneration. Flavonoids, such as quercetin, neutralize free radicals and may play a role in the prevention and/or treatment of these eye conditions. Quercetin and other flavonoids are widespread in fruit and vegetables and have been studied extensively for their antioxidant activity.

Dietary sources of quercetin

Quercetin can be found in onions, apples, green and black tea and in smaller amounts in leafy green vegetables and beans. Quercetin is typically found in plants as glycone or carbohydrate conjugates. Olive oil, grapes, dark cherries, and dark berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, and bilberries are also high in flavonoids including quercetin.

Dosage, intake, recommended daily allowance (RDA)

There is no fixed dietary recommendation for quercetin intake. Recommended adult dosage for general supplementation is about 200 to 400 mg three times daily. For patients with chronic prostatitis, 500 mg twice daily was shown to be effective in reducing symptoms. To relieve allergy symptoms, take 250 to 600 mg per day divided in several doses. Quercetin supplements are available in several strengths in powder or capsule form. They are often packaged with bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple) as an anti-inflammatory agent. If used with bromelain, the amount of bromelain should be equal to the amount of quercetin.