It is already known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden shows that blueberry fibre are important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even better if the blueberries are eaten together with probiotics.
The project originated as an attempt to see whether various types of dietary fibre and health-promoting bacteria, so-called probiotic bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, can help alleviate and prevent the risk of ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.
"But new knowledge of this field is also of interest to those who don't believe they run the risk of developing any intestinal diseases. In recent years the research world has been realizing that our health is governed to a great extent by what happens in our large intestine," explain Camilla Bränning, a PhD in Applied Nutrition and Åsa Håkansson, a doctoral candidate in Food Hygiene at the Division of Applied Nutrition and Food Chemistry.
The researchers tested various types of diets of blueberry husks, rye bran and oat bran with or without a mixture of probiotic bacteria. The results showed that the protective effect of blueberries was reinforced if they were eaten together with probiotics.
"The probiotics proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations," explains Åsa Håkansson.
Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial and antioxidative effect. The combination of blueberries and probiotics reduced inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestine at the same time as the number of health-promoting lactobacilla increased.
Åsa Håkansson and Camilla Bränning also noted that if blueberries are eaten together with probiotics, the content of butyric acid and propionic acid increased in the blood, two substances that are formed when fibre are broken down and that have previously been known to be important energy sources for intestinal cells. In recent years they have also been shown to favourably impact the immune defence. It seems as if the absorption of these components is facilitated by the presence of probiotics.
"What surprised us was that such a large share of the butyric acid not only was taken up by the intestinal cells but was also transported onward to the blood. Previously it was thought that the intestinal cells used all of the butyric acid, but this is not at all the case," says Camilla Bränning, who recently defended her dissertation on the subject.
"A further explanation for the extremely positive effect of blueberries may be that the blueberry fibre are not degraded to such a high degree in the large intestine. This means that inflammation-inducing substances do not come into contact with the mucous lining of the intestine but are embedded in the fibre instead. Then these substances are transported out of body together with the faeces," explains Camilla Bränning.
The researchers also found that rye bran was broken down in the large intestine, in the same place that ulcerative colitis and large-intestine cancer often occur, and that the rye bran provided a rich supply of butyric acid and propionic acid. On the other hand, the fibre in oat bran were degraded earlier in the large intestine. The most striking result, however, was that blueberries themselves had such a favourable effect compared with both rye bran and oat bran.
Some 15-20 percent of all Swedes suffer from stomach pains, diarrhoea, or constipation, complaints resulting from intestinal disorders and more undefined intestinal problems. The disease ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory intestinal diseases included under the general name IBD, inflammatory bowel diseases. It can lead to colorectal cancer and afflicts about 1,000 Swedes per year.
Antioxidant Shown to Block Hepatitis C Replication
Feb 8, 2010
Researchers recently learned that Quercetin, a popular antioxidant, inhibits the synthesis of proteins needed for Hepatitis C replication.
Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection
Finding may lead to a new treatment
January 4, 2010:
Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
An estimated 270 to 300 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C and the conventional treatments - interferon and ribavirin - can have significant side effects. A new drug targeting cellular proteins rather than viral proteins would be a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal, said Samuel French, an assistant professor of pathology and senior author of the study.
French and his team set out to identify the cellular factors involved in hepatitis C replication and, using mass spectrometry, found that heat shock proteins (HSPs) 40 and 70 were important for viral infection. HSP 70 was previously known to be involved, but HSP 40 was linked for the first time to hepatitis C infection, French said. They further showed that the natural compound Quercetin, which inhibits the synthesis of these proteins, significantly inhibits viral infection in tissue culture.
Continue reading the entire article:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/uoc--ncb010410.php
The project originated as an attempt to see whether various types of dietary fibre and health-promoting bacteria, so-called probiotic bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria, can help alleviate and prevent the risk of ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer.
"But new knowledge of this field is also of interest to those who don't believe they run the risk of developing any intestinal diseases. In recent years the research world has been realizing that our health is governed to a great extent by what happens in our large intestine," explain Camilla Bränning, a PhD in Applied Nutrition and Åsa Håkansson, a doctoral candidate in Food Hygiene at the Division of Applied Nutrition and Food Chemistry.
The researchers tested various types of diets of blueberry husks, rye bran and oat bran with or without a mixture of probiotic bacteria. The results showed that the protective effect of blueberries was reinforced if they were eaten together with probiotics.
"The probiotics proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations," explains Åsa Håkansson.
Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial and antioxidative effect. The combination of blueberries and probiotics reduced inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestine at the same time as the number of health-promoting lactobacilla increased.
Åsa Håkansson and Camilla Bränning also noted that if blueberries are eaten together with probiotics, the content of butyric acid and propionic acid increased in the blood, two substances that are formed when fibre are broken down and that have previously been known to be important energy sources for intestinal cells. In recent years they have also been shown to favourably impact the immune defence. It seems as if the absorption of these components is facilitated by the presence of probiotics.
"What surprised us was that such a large share of the butyric acid not only was taken up by the intestinal cells but was also transported onward to the blood. Previously it was thought that the intestinal cells used all of the butyric acid, but this is not at all the case," says Camilla Bränning, who recently defended her dissertation on the subject.
"A further explanation for the extremely positive effect of blueberries may be that the blueberry fibre are not degraded to such a high degree in the large intestine. This means that inflammation-inducing substances do not come into contact with the mucous lining of the intestine but are embedded in the fibre instead. Then these substances are transported out of body together with the faeces," explains Camilla Bränning.
The researchers also found that rye bran was broken down in the large intestine, in the same place that ulcerative colitis and large-intestine cancer often occur, and that the rye bran provided a rich supply of butyric acid and propionic acid. On the other hand, the fibre in oat bran were degraded earlier in the large intestine. The most striking result, however, was that blueberries themselves had such a favourable effect compared with both rye bran and oat bran.
Some 15-20 percent of all Swedes suffer from stomach pains, diarrhoea, or constipation, complaints resulting from intestinal disorders and more undefined intestinal problems. The disease ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory intestinal diseases included under the general name IBD, inflammatory bowel diseases. It can lead to colorectal cancer and afflicts about 1,000 Swedes per year.
Antioxidant Shown to Block Hepatitis C Replication
Feb 8, 2010
Researchers recently learned that Quercetin, a popular antioxidant, inhibits the synthesis of proteins needed for Hepatitis C replication.
Natural compound blocks hepatitis C infection
Finding may lead to a new treatment
January 4, 2010:
Researchers have identified two cellular proteins that are important factors in hepatitis C virus infection, a finding that may result in the approval of new and less toxic treatments for the disease, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
An estimated 270 to 300 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C and the conventional treatments - interferon and ribavirin - can have significant side effects. A new drug targeting cellular proteins rather than viral proteins would be a valuable addition to the treatment arsenal, said Samuel French, an assistant professor of pathology and senior author of the study.
French and his team set out to identify the cellular factors involved in hepatitis C replication and, using mass spectrometry, found that heat shock proteins (HSPs) 40 and 70 were important for viral infection. HSP 70 was previously known to be involved, but HSP 40 was linked for the first time to hepatitis C infection, French said. They further showed that the natural compound Quercetin, which inhibits the synthesis of these proteins, significantly inhibits viral infection in tissue culture.
Continue reading the entire article:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/uoc--ncb010410.php
Contact: Kim Irwinkirwin@mednet.ucla.edu310-206-2805
Does Quercetin Cause Side Effects?
Even though it is a natural product, quercetin may cause side effects, although short-term use of the supplement appears to be unlikely to cause serious side effects in most healthy adults. At this time, the side effects of long-term use (or high doses of the supplement) are currently unknown.
People often assume that natural products are always safe and free of side effects. However, this is simply not the case. It is reasonable to assume that any natural product with the capability to have medicinal properties may also have side effects.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with quercetin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
Possible Side Effects of Quercetin
Possible bothersome side effects that have been reported with oral use of quercetin include:
Headaches
Tingling of the hands or feet.
Possible side effects of quercetin given by IV include:
Flushing
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting.
Serious Side Effects
Possible serious quercetin side effects
(which should be reported to your healthcare provider immediately) include
Kidney damage (which has been seen with high doses given by IV)
Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as:
A rash
Hives
Itching
Swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat
Wheezing or other difficulty breathing.
Final Thoughts
It is possible that you may experience some or none of the side effects explained above. Make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking quercetin or if something "just does not seem right" during treatment. While it may not be a side effect, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
http://allergies.emedtv.com/quercetin/quercetin-side-effects-p2.html
Quercetin Side-Effects
by Laura
Quercetin Side-Effects
If you research quercetin side-effects, you’ll soon find that no clear toxicity exists. So taking large amounts won’t immediately have any obvious ill effects. However, there is some theoretical and anecdotal evidence that consuming large amounts of quercetin regularly — especially with other anti-oxidants (especially Vitamin C) — can potentially manifest some problems in some people despite quercetin benefits.
As is the case with many anti-oxidants — especially bioflavonoids such as quercetin — taking too many anti-oxidants at once can result in a pro-oxidant effect. What this means is that the inflammation-reducing effects of supplements such as vitamin C and quercetin can actually instead cause inflammation if you take them both in very high doses.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that this manifests itself most commonly in joint discomfort after prolonged usage of quercetin.
People with sensitive stomachs may also experience heartburn or acid reflux if larger doses are consumed on an empty stomach. However, this quercetin side-effect can often be avoided by simply taking the quercetin in the middle of a meal instead of on an empty stomach. Some common sense with quercetin dosage can go a long way to curbing negative quercetin side effects.
Again, it is important to understand that Vitamin C and quercetin can work great together if taken in reasonable doses. With supplements such as quercetin health can and will improve in specific areas if leveraging the supplement properly.
Taking A Quercetin Supplement
So how much Quercetin should you take to stay safe?
A regular quercetin dose is usually between 200 and 500 mg. A strong dose sometimes suggested is 800 mg. Most supplement manufacturers recommend taking it regularly through the day, so these doses are usually given three times a day.
There are very few situations where you would benefit from more than 2400 mg a day, so I suggest keeping that as the upper limit. I also suggest beginning with smaller doses to see how your body reacts to it. Please don’t rush in trying to help yourself faster by taking larger doses.
You should also consider drug interactions when using quercetin. A baseline to work with is to avoid taking quercetin with any medication which indicates you shouldn’t consume the following foods while using it: onions, apples, apple juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice; white, green & black teas.
These foods naturally contain higher concentrations of quercetin, so if a medication conflicts with them, you should also stay clear of a quercetin supplement while taking your medication.
In addition, the following medications are known to either be suppressed or exaggerated if taken in conjunction with quercetin: Cyclosporine, Estradiol, Felodipine
The interactions aren’t severe, so don’t panic if you’ve combined them already, but I would suggest immediately stopping your quercetin dosage and discussing your quercetin supplement with your doctor as soon as possible.
Some evidence also suggests quercetin may inhibit fluoroquinolones, a family of broad spectrum antibiotics. But to make it difficult, some evidence also suggests it may enhance these antibiotics. I suggest playing it safe and avoiding the interaction unless your medical professional states otherwise.
As always, of course, you should consult your doctor when making any of these decisions and considering quercetin effects on your overall medical regiment.
In general, be careful to keep your doses low and reasonable. Plant flavonoids may be more potent than many assumed just a few years ago, and there isn’t enough evidence to know for certain how that potency manifests itself.
Unless you know that quercetin has had a strong, positive effect on your health, I don’t suggest raising your total daily dosage above 1500 mg (that’s 3 separate doses of 500 mg… do not try taking 1500 mg at once), especially if you’re taking other bioflavanoids with your supplement regiment.
Does Quercetin Cause Side Effects?
Even though it is a natural product, quercetin may cause side effects, although short-term use of the supplement appears to be unlikely to cause serious side effects in most healthy adults. At this time, the side effects of long-term use (or high doses of the supplement) are currently unknown.
People often assume that natural products are always safe and free of side effects. However, this is simply not the case. It is reasonable to assume that any natural product with the capability to have medicinal properties may also have side effects.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with quercetin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
Possible Side Effects of Quercetin
Possible bothersome side effects that have been reported with oral use of quercetin include:
Headaches
Tingling of the hands or feet.
Possible side effects of quercetin given by IV include:
Flushing
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting.
Serious Side Effects
Possible serious quercetin side effects
(which should be reported to your healthcare provider immediately) include
Kidney damage (which has been seen with high doses given by IV)
Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as:
A rash
Hives
Itching
Swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat
Wheezing or other difficulty breathing.
Final Thoughts
It is possible that you may experience some or none of the side effects explained above. Make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking quercetin or if something "just does not seem right" during treatment. While it may not be a side effect, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
http://allergies.emedtv.com/quercetin/quercetin-side-effects-p2.html
Quercetin Side-Effects
by Laura
Quercetin Side-Effects
If you research quercetin side-effects, you’ll soon find that no clear toxicity exists. So taking large amounts won’t immediately have any obvious ill effects. However, there is some theoretical and anecdotal evidence that consuming large amounts of quercetin regularly — especially with other anti-oxidants (especially Vitamin C) — can potentially manifest some problems in some people despite quercetin benefits.
As is the case with many anti-oxidants — especially bioflavonoids such as quercetin — taking too many anti-oxidants at once can result in a pro-oxidant effect. What this means is that the inflammation-reducing effects of supplements such as vitamin C and quercetin can actually instead cause inflammation if you take them both in very high doses.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that this manifests itself most commonly in joint discomfort after prolonged usage of quercetin.
People with sensitive stomachs may also experience heartburn or acid reflux if larger doses are consumed on an empty stomach. However, this quercetin side-effect can often be avoided by simply taking the quercetin in the middle of a meal instead of on an empty stomach. Some common sense with quercetin dosage can go a long way to curbing negative quercetin side effects.
Again, it is important to understand that Vitamin C and quercetin can work great together if taken in reasonable doses. With supplements such as quercetin health can and will improve in specific areas if leveraging the supplement properly.
Taking A Quercetin Supplement
So how much Quercetin should you take to stay safe?
A regular quercetin dose is usually between 200 and 500 mg. A strong dose sometimes suggested is 800 mg. Most supplement manufacturers recommend taking it regularly through the day, so these doses are usually given three times a day.
There are very few situations where you would benefit from more than 2400 mg a day, so I suggest keeping that as the upper limit. I also suggest beginning with smaller doses to see how your body reacts to it. Please don’t rush in trying to help yourself faster by taking larger doses.
You should also consider drug interactions when using quercetin. A baseline to work with is to avoid taking quercetin with any medication which indicates you shouldn’t consume the following foods while using it: onions, apples, apple juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice; white, green & black teas.
These foods naturally contain higher concentrations of quercetin, so if a medication conflicts with them, you should also stay clear of a quercetin supplement while taking your medication.
In addition, the following medications are known to either be suppressed or exaggerated if taken in conjunction with quercetin: Cyclosporine, Estradiol, Felodipine
The interactions aren’t severe, so don’t panic if you’ve combined them already, but I would suggest immediately stopping your quercetin dosage and discussing your quercetin supplement with your doctor as soon as possible.
Some evidence also suggests quercetin may inhibit fluoroquinolones, a family of broad spectrum antibiotics. But to make it difficult, some evidence also suggests it may enhance these antibiotics. I suggest playing it safe and avoiding the interaction unless your medical professional states otherwise.
As always, of course, you should consult your doctor when making any of these decisions and considering quercetin effects on your overall medical regiment.
In general, be careful to keep your doses low and reasonable. Plant flavonoids may be more potent than many assumed just a few years ago, and there isn’t enough evidence to know for certain how that potency manifests itself.
Unless you know that quercetin has had a strong, positive effect on your health, I don’t suggest raising your total daily dosage above 1500 mg (that’s 3 separate doses of 500 mg… do not try taking 1500 mg at once), especially if you’re taking other bioflavanoids with your supplement regiment.
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