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Pharmacokinetics of quercetin absorption from apples and onions in healthy humans

Jihyun Lee, Alyson E Mitchell
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2012 60(15):3874

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 22439822
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or the disclosure metadata available for this entry.
Competing interests
A competing-interest declaration was not available in the indexed record or the disclosure metadata used for this entry.

Study snapshot

DesignHuman food-matrix pharmacokinetic comparison
ModelHuman intervention research
Sample16 healthy volunteers
InterventionApple peel powder, onion powder, or their mixture in applesauce, providing approximately 100 mg quercetin equivalents
DurationSingle-dose comparisons
EndpointsExposure and pharmacokinetics

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2012, this source examined forms, absorption and food sources. Design: Human food-matrix pharmacokinetic comparison. Sample/model: 16 healthy volunteers. The exposure or intervention was Apple peel powder, onion powder, or their mixture in applesauce, providing approximately 100 mg quercetin equivalents. Follow-up or treatment period: Single-dose comparisons.

Onion powder produced greater and earlier plasma quercetin exposure than apple peel powder; the mixture gave intermediate results.

Chemical forms and food matrices differed. This does not show that onions provide the same dose or health effects as a concentrated supplement.

Continue with Quercetin Data Center

For topic-level interpretation, read Foods High in Quercetin: Practical Sources and Portions. This is a related guide; the citation panel separately identifies articles that directly cite this paper.

Key findings

  • Onion powder produced greater and earlier plasma quercetin exposure than apple peel powder; the mixture gave intermediate results.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Exposure and pharmacokinetics.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Apple peel powder, onion powder, or their mixture in applesauce, providing approximately 100 mg quercetin equivalents; Single-dose comparisons.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Chemical forms and food matrices differed. This does not show that onions provide the same dose or health effects as a concentrated supplement.
  • A change in blood exposure or a metabolic marker is not a demonstrated improvement in symptoms, disease events or lifespan. The tested formulation and co-administered medicines matter.
  • Source basis: Source check: PubMed abstract and indexed metadata; full methods were not independently confirmed for this entry. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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