Nutrients
Quercetin
Herbs and Herbal Extracts
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables.
General Background
Exercise stress may lead to increased risk for upper respiratory tract infection. Quercetin can inhibit infectivity and replication of many viruses. The flavonoid may offset the increased susceptibility to viral infection caused by stressful exercise.
Effects and Interactions
Quercetin may help prevent stress-related influenza infection. Short-term supplementation of quercetin may reduce the susceptibility to influenza (A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1)) infection associated with stressful exercise (Davis et al., 2008).
Reference
Davis, J. M., Murphy, E. A., et al. (2008) Quercetin reduces susceptibility to influenza infection following stressful exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 295, R505-509.
