Does Quercetin Work?
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Ask the Coach
I’ll be training hard this winter for a spring race but am concerned about picking up training-squashing bugs. …
Illustration by Jeremy Duncan
I’ll be training hard this winter for a spring race but am concerned about picking up training-squashing bugs. Is there anything to that Quercetin stuff?
—Juan Martinez, New York, NY
Evidence supporting Quercetin’s immunity-boosting qualities is increasing. Recent studies by David Nieman, Ph.D., an internationally known immunity researcher, marathon runner and Western States 100 researcher, found that combining the plant-based flavenoid (an antioxidant) with green-tea extract, vitamin C, niacin and fish oil proved the most effective as an immunity aid.
Published in the American College of Sport Medicine’s July 2009 journal, the study reported that subjects who took the supplement for two weeks prior to heavy exercise had a stronger immune system and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, says Nieman.
“Quercetin alone does not have nearly the beneficial effects of mixing it with some nutrients,” he said.
Bottom line, just popping a Quercetin tab or sucking down some sports drink with it may not get results. Tip: Nieman says he’s heard rumors of a Quercetin chew with the green-tea-C-niacin mixture being developed.