What is Bioflavonoids ?

Description: Although bioflavonoids are not true vitamins in the strictest sense, they are sometimes called vitamin P. Bioflavonoids enhance the absorption of vitamin C, and the two should be taken together. There are many different bioflavonoids, including: eriodictyol, hesperetin, hesperidin, quercetin, quercetrin, and rutin. The human body cannot produce bioflavonoids, so they must be supplied in the food that is eaten or by nutritional supplements.

Bioflavonoids are used extensively in the treatment of athletic injuries because they relieve pain, bumps, and bruises. They also reduce pain located in the legs or across the back, and lessen symptoms associated with prolonged bleeding and low serum calcium. Bioflavonoids work with vitamin C in synergy, to protect and preserve the structure of the blood capillaries.

Bioflavonoids also:

help healing process
have an antibacterial effect
promote circulation
recover from alcoholism
stimulate bile production
lower cholesterol levels
treat and prevent cataracts
reduce the symptoms of oral herpes

Generally, people with a poor diet low in fruits and vegetables are not getting enough bioflavonoids in their diet and are at risk.

Bioflavonoids:
What do they do? Bioflavonoids are a class of water-soluble plant pigments. While they are not considered essential, they do support health as anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and anti-viral agents. They block the “sorbitol pathway” that is linked to many symptoms of diabetes. Bioflavonoids also protect blood vessels and reduce platelet aggregation (acting as natural blood thinners).

As antioxidants, some bioflavonoids, such as quercetin, protect LDL-cholesterol from oxidative damage. Others, such as the anthocyanidins from bilberry, may help protect the lens of the eye from cataracts. Preliminary evidence suggests that some bioflavonoids, such as naringenin, may have anticancer activity.

Where are they found?
Bioflavonoids are found in a wide range of foods. For example, citrus flavonoids are found in citrus fruits, rutin in buckwheat, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea, anthocyanidins in bilberry, and naringenin in grapefruit. In addition, OPCs, or oligomeric proanthocyanidins, are found in grape seeds and skins, and quercetin is found in many foods, including onions, tea, and apples.

In what conditions might bioflavonoids be supportive?

• atherosclerosis (quercetin, bilberry)
• bruising (bilberry)
• capillary fragility (quercetin, rutin, hesperidin)
• cataracts (quercetin, bilberry)
• circulation (bilberry)
• chronic venous insufficiency (hydroxyethylrutosides)
• diabetes (quercetin, bilberry)
• edema (water retention) (quercetin, rutin)
• gingivitis (periodontal disease)
• glaucoma (rutin)
• hay fever (quercetin, hesperidin, rutin)
• hepatitis (catechin, silymarin)
• high cholesterol (quercetin)
• minor injury
• macular degeneration (bilberry)
• menopause (hesperidin)
• menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)
• night blindness (bilberry)
• peptic ulcer (quercetin)
• retinopathy (bilberry)
• varicose veins (bilberry)

Who is likely to be deficient?
Bioflavonoid deficiencies have not been reported.

How much should I take?
Although bioflavonoid supplements are not required to prevent deficiencies in individuals eating a healthy diet, doctors of natural medicine often recommend 1,000 mg of citrus bioflavonoids or 400 mg of quercetin, each taken three times per day.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
No consistent toxicity has been linked to the bioflavonoids. The exception is for a bioflavonoid called cianidanol, which is not found in supplements.

The bioflavonoids help protect vitamin C; the citrus bioflavonoids, in particular, improve the absorption of vitamin C.1 2

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