Your diet-conscious friend might have suggested you add up flavonoid-rich foods to your diet owing to the immense health benefits they impart. If you have no clue about flavonoids and want to know about flavonoid supplement health benefits, then read us out.
What Are Flavonoids?
“Flavonoids” is the name given to a group of phenolic compounds that are present in vegetables, fruits, flowers, and tea extracts, etc. We will discuss the wide therapeutic effects of flavonoids in detail, however, to get an idea these are the basic medical effects of flavonoids:
- Anti-oxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-mutagenic
- Anti-cancerous
The combination of these basic effects enables them to be used in the treatment of multiple infirmities.
What Are The Different Types Of Flavonoids?
There are different subgroups that fall under the umbrella of flavonoids. The most important ones are mentioned below:
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are excellent radical scavengers. The antioxidant potential of these flavonoids is highly appreciated. The most evident therapeutic effects lent by anthocyanins are seen in the following conditions:
- Eyesight and vision issues
- Liver dysfunction
- Microbial infections
- Gastric issues (diarrhea etc.)
- Lipid metabolism
Catechins
Catechins are frequently found in green tea extracts. The chemical compound (like other flavonoids) is a marvelous natural antioxidant. It hunts down the free radicals in the body, thereby, protecting the body against oxidative damage.
Research suggests that this type of flavonoid is beneficial in the management of:
- Chronic inflammatory diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease)
- Heart diseases and atherosclerosis
Epigallocatechin (ECG) and epicatechin (EC) play an important role in imparting anti-mutagenic, anti-cancerous, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Neoflavonoids
According to studies, neoflavonoids are effective anti-carcinogens i.e. anti-cancer compounds. These polyphenolic compounds possess the power to combat cancer. This type of flavonoid not only kills the tumor but also imparts chemopreventive properties.
Isoflavonoids
These are especially known for their antioxidant abilities which enable them to protect your body against hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer and prostatic cancer.
According to a study, the consumption of isoflavonoids can reduce the risk of:
- Heart diseases
- Chronic inflammatory diseases
- Obesity
- Diabetes
Flavanones
Flavanones are abundantly present in citrus fruits such as oranges. They are known for the lipid-lowering effects paired with the cholesterol-lowering effect. They can aid weight reduction and also flush out oxidative stress from the body.
Other types of flavonoids include flavones, flavanols, etc.
Health Benefits Imparted By Flavonoid Supplements
In the rapidly evolving world, we need to pay special heed to what we consume. With research going on at a fast pace, we ought to take advantage of the dietary supplements that can help us in the quest to stay healthy.
If you are reluctant to adopt flavonoid supplements, then this list of flavonoid supplement health benefits will allure you:
1. Hypertension And Cardiovascular Maladies
Hypertension is a highly prevalent health condition that can lead to multiple defects and disturbances. The disease has a prevalence of 50% for 70+ years old white men. Therefore, it should be dealt with caution.
In a detailed study, it was concluded that flavonoids are extremely beneficial in lowering the raised arterial blood pressure. Quercetin (a flavonol) imparts a solid anti-hypertensive effect when administered orally (2mg/kg). Flavonol supplementation such as quercetin has shown to reduce blood pressure in prehypertensive patients too, a study suggests.
Another flavonoid myricetin efficiently reduces systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Similarly, flavanones also alleviate raised blood pressure. According to a study, glucosyl hesperidin administration leads to a rapid reduction in systolic blood pressure.
Catechins extracted from green tea are also potent in lowering systolic blood pressure. It was found in a study that polyphenols E from green tea leads to improvements in blood pressure when given for 8-weeks.
As per research, flavonoids bring about significant reductions in blood pressure by:
- Increasing nitric oxide bioavailability
- Reducing oxidative stress of endothelial cells
- Modulating vascular channel activity
The research also concludes that different groups of flavonoids (flavones, flavanones, anthocyanins, flavonols, and isoflavones) have anti-hypertensive effects.
In a 2015 study, flavonoids (especially quercetin) were found to be highly efficacious in managing high blood pressure.
Flavonoids take a dig at a cardiovascular disease in multiple ways. First, it reduces blood pressure values (the main cause of heart disease), and second, it imparts anti-cholesterol effects. This results in a reduced risk of atherosclerosis and heart diseases. According to a study, flavonoids play an important role in saving you from heart diseases.
Catechins from green tea aid in maintaining cardiovascular health too. Therefore, hypertensive patients are recommended green tea to protect themselves from the harms of heart maladies.
2. Diabetes
There have been numerous studies that promote the use of flavonoid supplements to prevent diabetes mellitus type 2. According to a meta-analysis, daily consumption of flavonoids is directly linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Most of the time the daily flavonoid needs are not fulfilled by food, that is the time when you can appreciate flavonoid supplement health benefits.
Diabetes is notorious for affecting the major organs of the body (heart, kidneys, etc.). The complications arising from this disease are more dangerous than the disease itself. Therefore, keeping this malady in bounds and limits is very important. As per a study, flavonoid supplementation can prevent the progression of diabetes.
Another study suggests that flavonoid supplements help keep diabetes at bay by inhibiting renal glucose reabsorption. Thus, you can maintain blood sugar levels by relying on flavonoid supplements.
A 2017 review concludes that flavonoid supplements can play a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The compound is also very helpful in the management of metabolic syndrome that is characterized by deranged blood sugar levels.
In a detailed study, it was found that flavonoids possess anti-diabetic properties. These properties can be attributed to different effects including improvements in insulin secretion. Thus, flavonoid supplements can be efficaciously used in the management of diabetes.
This makes them a potential herbal medication for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications as well, a study suggests.
3. Cancer
Probably the greatest health advantage of flavonoid supplements lies in cancer prevention and treatment. Polyphenols are gaining rapid popularity as anti-cancer compounds. There are plenty of studies available that praise the anti-carcinogenic properties of flavonoids.
According to a study, dietary flavonoids have strong anti-cancer properties and can therefore be used as potential cancer-preventive compounds. It is also confirmed by evidence that flavonoid consumption reduces the risk of lung cancer.
It was found in a large study that all groups of flavonoids (flavones, flavanones, anthocyanins, etc.) are responsible for reducing the risk of cancer development.
The compounds that are abundantly found in teas and fruits are also effective in limiting the spread of cancer. Metastasis is the term given to the spread of cancerous cells from the site of origin to different parts of the body. According to a 2020 study, flavonoids modulate the expression of cancerous genes and can stop cancer progression within the body.
The compounds prove to be an obstacle in the process of carcinogenesis, thus, can be incorporated along with anticancer therapies for improved results. A 2018 study suggests that flavonoids also increase the resistance of normal cells against cancer therapy. This allows for lesser complications of chemo and radiotherapy.
4. Lipid Metabolism
A deranged lipid profile is the root cause of many maladies. You can find the strings of different diseases (such as atherosclerosis, obesity, and diabetes, etc.) attached to an abnormal lipid profile.
By correcting the lipid metabolism, flavonoids can bring about many positive changes in the body. According to a study, flavonoids bring the lipid metabolism to normal and help in the following conditions:
- Dyslipidemia
- Insulin resistance
- Hepatic steatosis
- Obesity
- Atherosclerosis
Another study concluded that flavonoids can be efficacious in the management of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients.
The modulation of lipid metabolism helps ameliorate neuronal and metabolic disease manifestations too. You can also save yourself from myocardial infarction and stroke, thanks to the antithrombotic action of flavonoids.
It is proved by studies that flavonoid compounds regulate lipid metabolism by altering the expression of different genes (miR-122 and miR-33). Moreover, the alleviation of obesity (by alteration of lipid metabolism) leads to improvements in cognition and learning too, a study suggests.
So, if you are fed up with the bulky tummy and weak memory, grab a flavonoid supplement asap!
Good news for obese and overweight individuals. A study suggests that flavonoid supplements can be justly used in aiding weight loss. You can get rid of this menace by pumping on flavonoid supplements.
Studies suggest that you shall see improvements in body weight, fat mass, and other biomarkers for obesity.
5. Pain And Inflammation
Chronic pain and inflammation can take out all the energy and liveliness from your body. It is not only the persistent pain that is loathsome, at times temporary pains (like that of surgery) can leave you in awe.
A 2020 studysuggests that in addition to the antioxidant effect, flavonoids possess superb anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The compounds can be used to treat pathological pain. However, the greatest impact of flavonoids lies in neuropathic pain.
Another 2020 study claims that flavonoids show promising results in the management of peripheral neuropathic pain. In most cases, neuropathic pain is refractory and doesn’t get relief from any analgesic medication.
A detailed study found out that flavonoids improve symptoms of nerve pain by modulating GABA receptors. The study duly appreciated the potential of flavonoids in the alleviation of neuropathic pain.
When checking the analgesic effect of flavonoids on neuropathic pain, it was found that these compounds also reduced pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF and Interleukins (1 and 6). It can also be employed in the treatment of headaches and migraines, a study suggests.
The compounds show promising results when it comes to operative and surgical pain. The use of flavonoids was found to be linked to reduced severity of pain after hemorrhoidectomy. Flavonoids are frequently prescribed as analgesic and anti-inflammatory supplements.
6. Microbial Infections
Flavonoid-rich fruits and flavonoid supplements are the need of the hour. With the rapid escalation of viral infections, it is necessary that we take aid from nature.
A study suggests that flavonoids possess strong antimicrobial properties. The compounds carry out the following in the body:
- Neutralization of bacterial toxins
- Limiting of viral activity and replication
Flavonoids have been found to be effective against HIV infection as well.
The different types of flavonoids showed superb antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties in a detailed study. The flavones, catechins, and epigallocatechin (ECG) are strong antibiotics.
Flavonoids were found to be effective against respiratory viruses as well. One study showed the effectiveness of flavonoids against the influenza virus.
Flavonoids For Coronavirus
A 2020 study concluded that flavonoids can inhibit the key proteins that are involved in the infective cycle of coronavirus. This finding can be a ray of hope for combating this deadly disease.
Another 2021 study found flavonoid supplementation to be an extremely efficacious and safe therapy in the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, to keep yourself safe from this lethal virus, we recommend you add a flavonoid supplement to your diet.
Herbs That Are Rich In Flavonoids
There is a long list of herbs that are rich sources of flavonoids. These herbs can be added to the diet to take maximum advantage of flavonoid supplement health benefits.
Chamomile
Chamomile has plenty of flavonoids inside. The apigenin glycoside has strong anti-cancer properties.
Peppers
Fresh pepper is a rich source of flavonoids too. Red pepper has flavonoids and vitamin C in them.
Ginkgo Biloba
Flavonoids from Ginkgo biloba are very popular for therapeutic effects. This is why the herb is frequently used in the form of supplements.
Where Can I Find The Best Supplements?
You can find the best flavonoid supplements by visiting Beherbal.com. The best organic flavonoid supplement awaits you in the form of Elderberry complex. The product is packed with flavonoids (especially anthocyanins) that instantly flush out oxidative stress from your body. The vitamin C and zinc inside will help you boost immunity as well.
Conclusion
Flavonoid supplements have numerous health benefits. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential of the compounds speak volumes. Studies suggest that flavonoid supplements can be best used in diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer prevention, and pain management.
