Quercetin

[Tom_K]

"Quercetin May Prevent Fibrosis

Results of a tissue culture study suggest quercetin may be effective against excess scarring, or fibrosis. Fibrosis can cause problems in many areas of the body. Externally, it creates unsightly, raised keloid and hypertrophic scars after burns or other injuries. Internally, fibrosis causes life-threatening liver cirrhosis and kidney glomerulonephritis. In fibrosis, the cells that make scar tissue, or fibroblasts, are overactive. They multiply excessively, making too much collagen lattice, which contracts to form the three-dimensional scar. Currently, there is no satisfactory way to prevent or treat fibrosis.

To see if quercetin might help, Toan-Thang Phan, M.D., of the National University of Singapore, took tissue samples of fibroblasts from keloid and hypertrophic scars as well as from normal skin. He applied several types of natural compounds to the tissues and observed the results. Quercetin strongly inhibited the multiplication of keloid scar tissue cells but not the normal fibroblasts, in a dose-dependent manner. After the quercetin was removed from the environment, the keloid fibroblasts slowly resumed reproduction. Quercetin also normalized the collagen lattices so they did not contract. Other compounds, including curcumin from turmeric, also inhibited abnormal scarring, but quercetin was the most effective. "

[19Dragon52]

(((Hi Tom)))

Interesting article!  Tell me, please what Quercetin is.  Can it be found in a Supplement form, do we ingest it in certain foods or is it a component within our System?  I hope you can get back to me on this.

Many Thanks.....

[Tom_K]

http://www.raysahelian.com/quercetin.html

[19Dragon52]

(((Thanks Tom!)))

I read through the entire report.  Wish my printer was up & running but at least the website is marked.  It will be a usefull website for me and hubby.

Thanks Again For Your Time.....

[Rainbow]

Not so fast.  Put down the phone if you were about to order some.....LOL

Here's what I found out about it......

More recently, however, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared one-gram daily of oral quercetin with placebo in 27 healthy subjects. This dose was said to be about 50-fold greater than dietary intakes associated, epidemiologically, with reduced risk of coronary heart disease mortality. The study continued for 28 days, during which period subjects receiving quercetin achieved plasma quercetin levels 23-fold higher than levels in those on placebo.

The results showed no quercetin effect on serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Nor was there any effect on other factors considered to be indicators of risk for cardiovascular/thrombogenic disease, including platelet aggregation, platelet thromboxane B2 production, blood pressure and resting heart rate. There was no effect on levels of (n-6) or (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum or platelet phospholipids.

The researchers noted that the previous studies indicating that flavonoids, including quercetin, might be beneficial in heart disease were all performed in vitro or in animal models.

Another recent study increased plasma quercetin concentrations in 18 healthy subjects, via increased intake of quercetin-rich foods, such as onions. But, again, there was no effect on platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 production, factor VII or other hemostatic variables.

Quercetin is one of several flavonoids that have effects on mast cells and basophils; thus, some research suggests, it might be useful in some allergies, such as hay fever. Quercetin can help prevent the release of histamine and other mediators of allergic reactions, possibly by stabilizing cell membranes so that they are less reactive to allergens. Quercetin also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting formation of inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

It was suggested in an open-label study that quercetin might be helpful in category III chronic prostatitis syndromes (nonbacterial chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia). Recently, this was confirmed in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Thirty men with these disorders received either placebo or 500 milligrams of quercetin twice daily for one month. Significant improvement was achieved in the treated group, as measured by the National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis score. Some 67% of the treated subjects had at least 25% improvement in symptoms, compared with 20% of the placebo group achieving this same level of improvement.



These preliminary results, as well as tentative findings that quercetin can have favorable immune-modulating and (in combination with vitamin C) some anti-viral activity (against picomaviruses) need more vigorous followup studies.

(But it doesn't say anything about HEPATITIS C VIRUS or prevention of fibrosis)

There are reports that quercetin may have some gastroprotective effects in animal models. High-dose quercetin promoted mucus production and helped diminish the severity of gastric lesions in animals injured with absolute thanol. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in gastric mucosa, a measure of lipid peroxidation, was significantly decreased by quercetin in ethanol-injured animals. Whether these findings will have relevance in humans remains to be seen.


CONTRAINDICATIONS, PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS
None known.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Because of lack of long-term safety data, quercetin should be avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Adverse effects reported  with oral quercetin include gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, flushing, dyspnea, and rare reports of headache and mild tingling of the extremities. 

(DYSPNEA meand DIFFICULTY BREATHING!!!!!)

Intravenous administration of doses greater than 945 milligram per square meter has been associated with nephrotoxicity. (Kidney damage)
DRUG INTERACTIONS

Quinolone Antibiotics: Quercetin binds, in vitro, to the DNA gyrase site in bacteria. Therefore, theoretically, it can serve as a competitive inhibitor to the quinolone antibiotics which also bind to this site.

(Meaning that it may interfere with the action of some antibiotics)


Would I recommend something like this? 

I'm about to be disliked.....LOL......but here it goes.....

NO!   In medicine you always consider the possible benefit vs the risk.  What is your possible benefit?  You would be taking it to "prevent or decrease fibrosis".

But the only data I found was on it being used IN VITRO which means in a petri dish/test tube, NOT in humans.  Using something IN VIVO is totally different.


What is the possible risk?

1.  See list of possible side effects.  Some of those things are serious.
2.  Long term studies have not been done.
3.  It interferes with insulin pathways.
4.  May interfere with other drugs like antibiotics.
5.  May interfere with platelet clotting, which means that it could interfere with drugs like Coumadin. 

There is also one more.....this I have nothing to back it up with but.......some of the literature said that St John's Wort contains a large amount of Quercetin.....and according to Dr Paul Steier from Cedars Sinai, St John Wort takes up the same pathway as Interferon and may not let it work.  What if Quercetin does the same?

When the risk is greater than the possible benefit, my answer will usually be no.

star

[Al]

When the risk is greater than the possible benefit, my answer will usually be no. star

star, could you please send me a PM before you post stuff like this so I can dump my stock & buy options before everyone else calls their brokers?

My bogies thank you~

[Tom_K]

star,

I'm wondering if you would recommend any supplements. During the past fifteen years I have yet to meet anyone in the healthcare profession that has and I'm constantly at odds with doctors and their staff over my supplement regimen.

Tom

[Rainbow]

Al.....I'm about to rip DCA, the cheap drug for cancer.  I'll give you a few minutes....

star

[Al]

Call to broker completed. Rip away~

[Rainbow]

Tom.....in all honesty, there are very few that I would recommend.  That is NOT to say that I am against all supplements.  I am Pagan and Paganism is a nature based religion.  Please understand that "my job" so to speak, is to keep people from getting harmed.  Just because things are "natural" it doesn't mean that they are good for you.  Lightening is natural....LOL

Anything that I would recommend, I have researched fully and I ALWAYS tell people to check with their doctor before taking anything.  What would I recommend?  Milk Thistle, Anti-oxidants like Alpha Lipoic Acid, SamE (which lowers liver enzymes and helps depression),  and a few others for mental fog and diabetes.

I admit it, I am anal.  You should see my treatment instructions, I spell every little detail out.....and so far they have worked well.  


"An it harm none, do as ye will".

star

[Rainbow]

Al......where was the DCA topic?  I still get lost alot.

star

[Tom_K]

star,

I find that you practice Paganism interesting and refreshing. Thank you for sharing that with me.

"Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good."

"An ye harm none, do as ye will",

Tom

[Rainbow]

I forgot another one Tom.  Sho-Saiko-To.  It has anti-cirrhotic properties.  Doesn't work on everybody.  I would use it as a last resort.....and of course never together with Interferon. 

Did I research it? 

You bet. Dr Paul Steier (who knows EVERYTHING about herbals) and I met with the President of Honso.  we were interested in doing studies using Sho-Saiko-To but the company is small and couldn't afford to pay.  Dr Hassanin has been doing studies on it.  So far he's done safety and tolerability studies without problems.

star

[Tom_K]

star,

I'm familar with Sho-Saiko-To and have taken it for a couple of years but then they jacked the price up so I had to give it up for the time being.

Tom

[Ella]

Hi star,

Thanks for the info on quercetin.  Need to ask a couple of questions re the trials you mentioned.  Firstly, you mention that "it didn't say anything about HCV or fibrosis" - but was anyone being tested for the effect on HCV or fibrosis? Since it seems to be useful as an anti-inflammatory, perhaps a longer trial testing for these things needs to be done, as we know that fibrosis is the result of long term inflammation (where HCV is concerned).  It just sounds feasible that something that is anti-inflammatory and immune modulating could very well benefit people with HCV and fibrosis.  Also, 28 days doesn't seem very long for a trial such as this.

I'm not trying to be contrary, but we all know that drug companies aren't going to waste money on long term trials for something such as quercetin, which they can't patent and therefore will never be a money spinner. (Sell those shares Al)

Also, how much does 945mg per square meter translate to a daily dosage? 

It makes it very difficult for those of us who don't yet want to rush into treatment when we can't get long term reliable trials done on these things.  The alternatives can be dicey as well.  I ordered some SaMe from overseas and found that it contained pthalates (why?  I have no idea), so I returned them, as pthalates are highly carcinogenic and I felt it wasn't worth the risk.

And last but not least ... what is DCA?