Therapeutic Efficacy of Flavonoids in Allergies: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of flavonoid supplements on allergic diseases.

Design: Systematic review. Data Sources. MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies. Eligible study designs were randomized controlled trials that investigated the effect of flavonoids applied to allergic diseases.

Results: This review included 15 randomized controlled trials, including allergic rhinitis/cedar pollinosis (n = 10), asthma (n = 3), and atopic dermatitis (n = 2). A total of 990 participants aged 6 to 69 years were included in these studies. Globally, 12 studies (80%) revealed some benefits of flavonoids (isolate or combined with other compounds) in allergic patients, while three studies (20%) reported no statistically significant impact on symptom scores and/or lung function. No severe adverse events related to treatment were reported. According to the GRADE system, the outcomes evaluated were of low to moderate quality of evidence.

Conclusions: Overall, this review suggests that the administration of flavonoids may provide a viable strategy for mitigating allergic symptoms. Future trials with high methodological quality are needed to establish definitive conclusions. This trial is registered with PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021237403.