The acute effect of ingesting a quercetin-based supplement on exercise-induced inflammation and immune changes in runners

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2011 Aug;21(4):338-46. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.21.4.338.

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.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Creatine Kinase / metabolism
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / drug effects*
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Quercetin / administration & dosage*
  • Quercetin / blood
  • Respiratory Burst / drug effects
  • Running*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Quercetin
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Creatine Kinase