Quercetin's Effects on Muscle Damage and Inflammation after Exercise

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      Antioxidants are beginning to be examined more in the clinical world for their anti inflammatory and potential cancer fighting roles. Quercetin is a flavonoid known to have anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties found in peels of onions and apples. Lately, quercetin has been isolated in supplements to reduce muscle damage and inflammation after strenuous exercise. In this particular study, participants received either a 1000 mg quercetin filled nutrition bar or placebo for  seven days before eccentric exercise and for five days after. Exercise included 24 contractions of the elbow flexors using a modified preacher curl bench. Interestingly, both the treatment and placebo group experienced muscle soreness, strength loss, serum creatine kinase elevations, and arm swelling and it was found quercetin supplementation had no effect on markers of muscle damage or inflammation after eccentric exercise. Furthermore, IL-6 and C-reactive protein levels in the body were not altered relative to baseline or among treatment groups. More studies are needed to show quercetin's effects on the inflammatory process in the body.  Also I think it would be interesting if researchers in this study examined whether natural sources of quercetin consumed found in apple, onion peels had a different outcome regarding muscle damage and inflammation after exercise compared to supplement consumption.

E. Kintner

Source:
 Ofallon K, Kaushik D, Michniak-Kohn B, Dunne C, Zambraski E, Clarkson P. Effects of Quercetin Supplementation on Markers of Muscle Damage and Inflammation After Eccentric Exercise. International Journal Of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism [serial online]. December 2012;22(6):430-437. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed February 18, 2013.

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