The Acute Effect of Ingesting a Quercetin-Based Supplement on Exercise-Induced Inflammation and Immune Changes in Runners

Abstract

This study tested the acute anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating influence of a quercetin-based supplement consumed by endurance athletes 15 min before an intense 2-hr run. In this randomized, crossover study, 20 runners (11 men, 9 women, age 38.4 ± 2.1 yr) completed two 2-hr treadmill runs at 70% VO(2max) (3 wk apart). Subjects ingested either 4 quercetin-based chews (Q-chew) or placebo chews (PL) 15 min before the runs. The 4 Q-chews provided 1,000 mg quercetin, 120 mg epigallocatechin 3-gallate, 400 mg isoquercetin, 400 mg each eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, 1,000 mg vitamin C, and 40 mg niacinamide. Subjects provided blood samples 30 min before, immediately after, and 1 hr postexercise and were analyzed for plasma quercetin, total blood leukocytes (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), 9 cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, GM-CSF, IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p70), granulocyte (GR) and monocyte (MO) phagocytosis (PHAG), and oxidative-burst activity (OBA). Plasma quercetin increased from 80.0 ± 26.0 μg/L to 6,337 ± 414 μg/L immediately postexercise and 4,324 ± 310 μg/L 1 hr postexercise after ingestion of Q-chews, compared with no change in PL (p < .001). Exercise caused significant increases in, CRP, GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα, GR-PHAG, and MO-PHAG and decreases in GR-OBA and MO-OBA, but no differences in the pattern of change were measured between Q-chew and PL trials. Acute ingestion of Q-chews 15 min before heavy exertion caused a strong increase in plasma quercetin levels but did not counter postexercise inflammation or immune changes relative to placebo.

The Peroxidation of Leukocytes Index Ratio Reveals the Prooxidant Effect of Green Tea Extract

“…However, the post-exercise-induced decrease in oxidative burst was unaffected after bolus consumption of the same supplement [29, 30], when hydroethidine was used as probe [30]. Therefore our results confirm that the plasma membrane C-11 BODIPY is a suitable probe in the evaluation of the effects on the oxidative burst of flavonoids, which increase DHR123 accumulation [31].…”

Polyphenols in Exercise Performance and Prevention of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

“…Similar conclusions have been reached when the effects of quercetin in association with catechin, isoquercetin, and PUFA were evaluated in an acute crossover study involving 20 endurance athletes supplemented with an oral dose providing 1000 mg quercetin [60]. Athletes were supplemented 15 min prior to a 2-hour run.…”

Exercise-Induced Immunodepression in Endurance Athletes and Nutritional Intervention with Carbohydrate, Protein and Fat — What Is Possible, What Is Not?

“…Slight effects on cytokine milieu were revealed in only one trial when EPA and DHA were supplemented alone [130] or combined with lycopene [132]. Although dietary mixes with EPA and DHA may be beneficial in clinical trials [135], a recent study was not able to show a marked influence on post-exercise immune variables when EPA and DHA (400 mg each) were combined with other dietary immunostimulants, such as quercetin [136]. Interestingly there is a wide variance in the EPA:DHA ratio used in the presented studies, ranging from 1:4 [132] to 1:1 [133,136] and 2:1 [134] up to 4–5:1 [130,131] although general guidelines suggest an EPA:DHA ratio of 2:1 for athletes [129].…”