Quercetin intake and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between intake of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin and subsequent incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVA).


METHODS
A cohort study carried out among 9208 Finnish men and women 15 y or more of age and initially free from cardiovascular disease. During a 28 y follow-up period in 1967-1994, a total of 824 cases with CVA were diagnosed.


METHODS
Food consumption data were collected using a dietary history interview method covering the total habitual diet during the previous year.


RESULTS
Quercetin intake was not associated with CVA incidence. The relative risk of CVA adjusted for age, serum cholesterol, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, geographical area, occupation and intake of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, fibre, various fatty acids, and energy between the highest and lowest quartiles of quercetin intake was 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.71-1.38) for men and 0.85 (CI=0.60-1.21) for women. In contrast, apples, the major source of quercetin in the study population, showed a significant inverse association both in men and women, mainly due to an association with thrombotic or embolic stroke. The relative risks of thrombotic stroke after further adjustment for quercetin intake were 0.59 (CI=0.35-0.99; P=0.45) and 0.61 (CI=0.33-1.12: P for trend=0.02) for men and women, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke. This association apparently is not due to the presence of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin.
Knekt
P
P
National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. paul.knekt@ktl.fi
Isotupa
S
S
Rissanen
H
H
Heliövaara
M
M
Järvinen
R
R
Häkkinen
S
S
Aromaa
A
A
Reunanen
A
A
D000375:Aging; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000975:Antioxidants; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014810:Vitamin E; D002784:Cholesterol; D011794:Quercetin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid