@article{3139398,
    title = "A QUERCETIN CONTAINING SUPPLEMENT REDUCES NIACIN-INDUCED FLUSH IN HUMANS",
    author = "Kalogeromitros, D. and Makris, M. and Chliva, C. and Aggelides, X. and and Kempuraj, D. and Theoharides, T. C.",
    journal = "International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology",
    year = "2008",
    volume = "21",
    number = "3",
    pages = "509-514",
    publisher = "BIOLIFE SAS",
    issn = "0394-6320",
    doi = "10.1177/039463200802100304",
    keywords = "flavonoids; flush; niacin; prostaglandins; quercetin; serotonin; skin",
    abstract = "Coronary artery disease is associated with increased serum levels of
cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, but low levels of HDL. The most
potent agent capable of reversing this trend is the vitamin nicotinic
acid (niacin). However, compliance even with extended-release
preparations and addition of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is hampered by
the development of a feeling of erythema and burning (”flush”),
especially on the face. We recently showed that the natural flavonoids
quercetin and luteolin can eliminate “flush”, as well as inhibit
both niacin-induced plasma prostaglandin D-2 (PGD(2)) and serotonin
increase in an animal model. We conducted a pilot clinical study in
humans. Four normal male subjects received (a) I g immediate release
niacin either alone or after (b) the dietary formulation (Algonot-plus
(R)) containing 150 ling quercetin per capsule. Subjects completed a
visual scale (1=no, 5=worst response) symptom assessment. Erythema and
burning sensation scores were both 4.75 +/- 0.50 and lasted for 3.63 +/-
1.11 hours. After Algonot-plus (R) administration, both scores were
reduced to 2.5 +/- 0.58 and lasted for only 1.68 +/- 0.70 hours.
Quercetin also inhibited methylnicotinate-induced human mast cell PGD(2)
release. These preliminary results suggest that quercetin could reduce
niacin-induced “flush” in humans."
}