| A new study funded by the U. S. Department of | | | | the general public. |
| Defense found Quercetin, an antioxidant pigment | | | | The Department of Exercise Science, University of |
| found in apples, onions, and tea, to reduce viral | | | | South Carolina conducted a similar study. The object |
| infections and preserve physical and mental abilities in | | | | of the study was to explore the fact that exercise |
| a test group of physically-stressed athletes. Scientists | | | | stress increases an athlete's susceptibility to infection |
| with Appalachian State University in Boone, North | | | | and quercetin was reported to reduce infectivity and |
| Carolina recruited 40 disciplined cyclists and randomly | | | | replication of a broad spectrum of viruses. |
| divided the cyclists into two groups of 20 riders in | | | | While moderate exercise in humans appears to |
| each group. The first group of 20 riders, referred to | | | | increase susceptibility to upper respiratory tract |
| as the quercetin riders, was directed to take 1,000 | | | | infection in mice, a study conducted at the |
| mg. of quercetin, plus niacin and vitamin C per day for | | | | Department of Exercise Science, University of South |
| five weeks. Niacin and vitamin C were assigned to | | | | Carolina, Columbia and the Department of |
| improve the absorption of the quercetin. The | | | | Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Clemson |
| remaining group of 20 riders was directed to take | | | | University, Clemson, South Carolina researched |
| the placebo. | | | | quercetin's ability to reduce susceptibility to influenza |
| Scientists did not begin the physical stress for three | | | | infection. The object of this study was to analyze |
| weeks. Athletes then rode their bicycles for 3 hours | | | | the effects of quercetin feedings on increasing or |
| per day, three consecutive days until they reached | | | | reducing susceptibility to the influenza virus A/Puerto |
| the point of exhaustion. Blood and tissue samples | | | | Rico/8/34 (H1N1) after stressful exercise. Four |
| were then taken to determine the rider's levels of | | | | treatment groups of mice were assigned, |
| stress hormones, oxidative stress and significant | | | | exercise-placebo group, exercise-quercetin group, |
| muscle damage. After the extreme exercise, 45% of | | | | control-placebo group, or control-quercetin group. Mice |
| the placebo riders were found to be ill as compared | | | | were required to run on a treadmill until fatigued. This |
| to only 5% of the quercetin group with no side | | | | exercise program lasted for three consecutive days. |
| effects. Dr. David Nieman commented that apparently | | | | The mice were force fed using the gavage |
| it requires significant stress before quercetin's | | | | technique, and administered 12.5 mg/kg to the mice |
| infection-fighting properties are brought out. | | | | for seven days before the viral challenge. Data |
| Researchers expanded their study by including mental | | | | produced in the study suggest that short-term |
| alertness and reaction-time tests at the point of | | | | quercetin feedings could prove to be an effective |
| exhaustion. It was found the quercetin group's | | | | method to reduce the impact of stressful exercise |
| performance was faster than the placebo. | | | | on susceptibility to respiratory infection. |
| Researchers and doctors pointed out that this was | | | | DISCLAIMER: I am not a Doctor and do not give |
| the first controlled clinical trial to find a plant | | | | medical advice; this is a news report and cannot |
| compound to resist viral infection and they plan to | | | | substitute for the advice of a medical professional. |
| follow it up with a study on psychological stress in | | | | |