title: Quercetin and vitamin C supplementation: effects on lipid profile and muscle damage in male athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quercetin, which is considered as a health-promoting antioxidant, belongs to the broad flavonoids group. Numerous experimental studies have proved that quercetin and vitamin C provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of both quercetin and vitamin C on lipid profile and muscle damage in human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 60 males for eight weeks. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: 1) quercetin + vitamin C (500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day vitamin C) 2) quercetin (500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day placebo) 3) vitamin C (500 mg/day vitamin C + 200 mg/day placebo) and 4) placebo (500 mg/day placebo + 200 mg/day placebo). Blood samples, body weight and percent of body fat were measured before and after intervention. In addition, dietary intake was estimated using 24-h recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes occurred in high-density lipoprotein levels between groups and in the four groups before and after supplementation. Low density lipoprotein values decreased significantly (P = 0.048) in the "Quercetin + Vit C" group but decrease was not considerable in other groups before and after intervention and among groups. Fat-soluble vitamins' intake was significantly high among 4 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quercetin and vitamin C supplementation may not be beneficial in lipid profile improvement, although it may reduce induce muscle damage and body fat percent.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajishafiee
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghiasvand
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Darvishi
authors.forename: Shekoofeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghassemi
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iraj
authors.forename: Volga
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hovsepian
keywords: Athletes; lipid profiles; quercetin