Resveratrol

Resveratrol is in the news a lot these days, but not as many people have heard about quercetin – another powerful compound that some researchers think might be a contributing partner in resveratrol’s seemingly unstoppable abilities as a powerful health agent.

Like resveratrol, quercetin is derived from plants. Foods that are naturally abundant in quercetin include onions, cranberries, red grapes, tomatoes, citrus fruit, broccoli, capers, and dark, leafy green vegetables. A study reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry entitled “Ten-Year Comparison of the Influence of Organic and Conventional Crop Management Practices on the Content of Flavonoids in Tomatoes” noted that organic tomatoes had 79% more quercetin than those that were conventionally grown. And it is well known that a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables can help prevent certain cancers; scientists and medical researchers are wondering if quercetin might be a reason.

Another study links both resveratrol and quercetin to weight loss possibilities. Individually tested in vitro, each molecule inhibited the accumulation of fat in maturing fat cells, or preadipocytes, by 9-15%. However, when taken together the accumulation of fat in the cells decreased by more than 68%. So, fresh vegetables might not only be effective against cancer, they may also contain within them the very compounds to help prevent fat from storing in our bodies.

The spokesman for one leading brand of resveratrol supplements, Longevinex, had this to say about the relationship between resveratrol and quercetin: “Quercetin is one of the secrets of red wine. It works in tandem with resveratrol to make it more instantly available to tissues throughout the body.” The statement came on the heels of another brand of resveratrol supplements that falsely stated that quercetin inhibited, rather than assisted, the absorbtion of resveratrol. Longevinex spokesman, Bill Sardi, made it clear that there is not any scientific information to back that claim up, saying that many people would be mislead and misinformed. According to studies carried out by Longivinx, which provides resveratrol and quercetin together, the recommended dosage of their supplement is lower due to the greater bioavailability the two molecules provide together.

Quercetin might not be the only compound that has synergistic properties with resveratrol. It is surmised by some researchers that five compounds – resveratrol, quercetin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and the trace mineral selenium – may synergistically work together to provide health benefits for the heart and in preventing cancer.