Summary
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesises evidence from 31 human intervention studies published up to July 2024 to identify the principal determinants of quercetin bioavailability. Key findings indicate that glycoside form, physical encapsulation, and food matrix substantially influence absorption, with quercetin-3-O-oligoglucosides demonstrating markedly superior bioavailability compared with the aglycone or rutinoside forms. The paper provides a quantitative framework for comparing formulation and dietary strategies intended to enhance quercetin uptake in humans.
UK applicability
The findings are applicable to UK nutrition research and food product development, particularly in the context of dietary polyphenol intake from quercetin-rich foods such as onions, apples, and tea, which are commonly consumed in the UK. UK researchers and public health practitioners may draw on these findings to inform guidance on optimising polyphenol bioavailability through dietary patterns or functional food formulations.
Key measures
Relative bioavailability ratios; plasma/serum quercetin pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUC); urinary quercetin excretion; fold-change in bioavailability across formulations and food matrices
Outcomes reported
The study measured quercetin bioavailability in humans across 31 intervention studies, assessing the effects of chemical structure, physicochemical modifications, food matrix, and formulation strategies on quercetin absorption as quantified from blood and urine samples.
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