Document Detail


The dietary flavonoid quercetin increases VO(2max) and endurance capacity.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20190352     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid substance present in a variety of food plants, has been shown in vitro and in animal studies to have widespread health and performance benefits resulting from a combination of biological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the ability to increase mitochondrial biogenesis. Little is known about these effects in humans, however, especially with respect to exercise performance. The authors determined whether quercetin ingestion would enhance maximal aerobic capacity and delay fatigue during prolonged exercise in healthy but untrained participants. Twelve volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: (a) 500 mg of quercetin twice daily dissolved in vitamin-enriched Tang or (b) a nondistinguishable placebo (Tang). Baseline VO2max and bike-ride times to fatigue were established. Treatments were administered for a period of 7 days using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design. After treatment both VO2max and ride time to fatigue were determined. Seven days of quercetin feedings were associated with a modest increase in VO2max (3.9% vs. placebo; p < .05) along with a substantial (13.2%) increase in ride time to fatigue (p < .05). These data suggest that as little as 7 days of quercetin supplementation can increase endurance without exercise training in untrained participants. These benefits of quercetin may have important implications for enhancement of athletic and military performance. This apparent increase in fitness without exercise training may have implications beyond that of performance enhancement to health promotion and disease prevention.
Authors:
J Mark Davis; Catherine J Carlstedt; Stephen Chen; Martin D Carmichael; E Angela Murphy
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism     Volume:  20     ISSN:  1526-484X     ISO Abbreviation:  Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-03-01     Completed Date:  2010-03-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100939812     Medline TA:  Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  56-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Div. of Applied Physiology, Dept. of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antioxidants / pharmacology*
Bicycling / physiology
Cross-Over Studies
Dietary Supplements
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Male
Mitochondria, Muscle / drug effects,  metabolism
Muscle Fatigue / drug effects
Oxygen Consumption / drug effects*,  physiology
Physical Endurance / drug effects*,  physiology
Quercetin / pharmacology*
Time Factors
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antioxidants; 117-39-5/Quercetin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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