Effect of quercetin on traits of the metabolic syndrome, endothelial function and inflammation in men with different APOE isoforms

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 403 - 409
• Main Authors: Pfeuffer, M., Auinger, A., Bley, U., Kraus-Stojanowic, I., Laue, C., Winkler, P., Rüfer, C.E., Frank, J., Bösch-Saadatmandi, C., Rimbach, G., Schrezenmeir, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2013
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Aged; Alleles; Anthropometry; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; apolipoprotein E; Apolipoprotein E3; Apolipoprotein E3 - blood; Apolipoprotein E3 - genetics; Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoprotein E4 - blood; Apolipoprotein E4 - genetics; atherosclerosis; biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; blood; Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; body mass index; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; drug effects; drug therapy; Endothelial function; Endothelium, Vascular; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Fasting; genetics; Genotype; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; Humans; inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Inflammation - prevention & control; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; men; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - drug therapy; metabolism; Middle Aged; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phenotype; Polyphenols; Polyphenols - administration & dosage; Postprandial Period; Postprandial Period - drug effects; postprandial state; prevention & control; Prospective Studies; Quercetin; Quercetin - administration & dosage; Quercetin - blood; Risk Factors; systolic blood pressure; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; waist circumference; Cardiovascular disease; Endothelial function; Metabolic syndrome; Quercetin
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2011.08.010

The polyphenol quercetin may prevent cardiovascular diseases due to its vasorelaxant and anti-oxidative properties. We investigated the effects of quercetin on risk factors of atherosclerosis, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, depending on the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. In a double-blind crossover study 49 healthy male subjects with APOE genotype 3/3 (n = 19), 3/4 (n = 22) and 4/4 (n = 8) consumed 150 mg/d quercetin or placebo for 8 weeks each, intermitted by a three-week washout phase. After each intervention, endothelial function, anthropometry, metabolic and inflammatory parameters were measured in the fasting and postprandial state following a standardized lipid-rich meal. Endothelial function was not changed. In all subjects combined, quercetin significantly decreased waist circumference (P = 0.004) and postprandial systolic blood pressure (P = 0.044). Postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly decreased and HDL-cholesterol concentrations increased after quercetin as compared to placebo consumption (P = 0.025). Quercetin also moderately increased levels of TNFα (P = 0.024). There was a significant gene–diet interaction for waist circumference and for body mass index (BMI). Quercetin supplementation improved some risk factors of cardiovascular disease, yet exerted slightly pro-inflammatory effects. Genotype-dependent effects were seen only on waist circumference and BMI.