Bioflavonoids & Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions
What Are Bioflavonoids?
Bioflavonoids are a naturally occurring, diverse group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals). They contribute to the vibrant colors in fruits, vegetables, and even autumn foliage. There are currently over 4,000 flavonoid compounds that have been identified. The 6 common subclasses are anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, and isoflavones.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, scientists have recently turned to numerous flavonoids to explain the varying health benefits associated with diets rich in fruits and vegetables. These bioflavonoids are abundant in antioxidant agents. Antioxidants assists your body in fighting off and preventing damage to your cells caused by free radicals.
There are many additional benefits to flavonoids such as decreasing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and reducing chronic inflammation. Promotion of healthy connective tissue may also be evident, however more human in vivo studies are required.
The Roles of Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin
Proanthocyanidins are a type of chemical compound that give fruits, vegetables, and flowers of many plants their red, purple, amd blue color. These particular compounds have been found to possess an abundance of health benefits, including the potential reduction in cardiovascular disease. Shan Teixeira, PT quoted a 1979 Lancet publication described the so-called ‘‘French paradox,’’ in his article published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy and entitled “Bioflavonoids: Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin and Their Potential Roles in Treating Musculoskeletal Conditions“ about the French in particular and their lowered risk of cardiovascular disease due to their higher consumption of red wine. There seems to be strong correlation between high intakes of bioflavonoids and heart disease – even despite a high intake of saturated fats in the diet.
Quercetin is also classified as a flavonoid that assists with giving many fruits, flowers, and vegetables their colors. It’s been shown to present many health benefits, including the ability to decrease inflammation in the body. Alexander Victor Anand David et al wrote in an article published in Pharmacognosy Reviews and entitled “Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid” about quercetin and its ability to reduce inflammation. Overall there was mixed results – a significant reduction of inflammation present in healthy male athletes, but no significant change in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Inflammation and Tissue Degradation
Inflammation is a very normal immune response that occurs when your body detects an infection or injury. However, if inflammation becomes systemically chronic it can eventually lead to connective tissue degradation. According to Shan Teixeira, “this occurs through 2 primary mechanisms: proteolytic enzymes and oxygen-free radicals such as superoxide ion (O2), singlet, and hydroxyl radicals.”
Proteolytic enzymes refer to hydrolytic enzymes that break down proteins into their constituent parts by cleaving peptide bonds. These include elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase. They have been shown to be more prevalent in tissue with chronic conditions and also cause degradation of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
Oxygen-free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron, which means that they can react with other molecules to cause damage to cells. For example, the body produces hydroxyl radicals in the mitochondria as byproducts of its normal metabolism process, but these are neutralized by an enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD). When this enzyme is deficient or absent from within your body, the hydroxyl radical can run amok and contribute to conditions like arthritis.
So Can Bioflavonoids Ease Musculoskeletal Problems?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is recommended to intake at least 14 oz (i.e five portions) of fruits and vegetable per day. However only 1 in 10 adults actually eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. With a lack of these foods in our diets, comes a lack of the beneficial properties of flavonoids such as Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin. As a result, it makes room for chronic inflammation and other musculoskeletal conditions to run amok in our bodies.
Shan Teixeira goes on to outline in his article an alternative solution to assist in treating musculoskeletal conditions. Overall, this study found that flavonoids may be beneficial in treating chronic conditions where repeated or long-term use of NSAIDs may not be recommended.
In addition to their free radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory effects, there is evidence to suggest that flavonoids, specifically PCOs, have the ability to increase the strength and stability of collagen fibrils. As novel anti-inflammatory agents, inhibitors of tissue degradation, as well as promoters of phylactic measure against musculoskeletal injuries. (Teixeira)
Overall, bioflavonoids have shown to positively improve your health and wellbeing. They possess anti-inflammatory agents, are inhibitors of tissue degradation, as well as promoters of a strong connective tissue matrix. They are recommended to be taken via regular daily intake of fruits & vegetables, but can also be taken by a daily supplement if necessary. More human in vivo studies still need to be conducted, but it’s safe to say bioflavonoids show promise of being a beneficial companion to traditional treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
So What Do you Recommend?
Antioxidants may help to mitigate the potential negative effects of prolonged oxidative stress. Additionally, ingredients with antioxidant function have shown potential for reducing oxidative damage caused by exercise when taken by healthy individuals.
The protocol I created is intended to support healthy aging through ingredients focused on attenuating damage caused by oxidative stress. These are my picks for antioxidants that have shown clinical relevancy and have demonstrated good results after extended use.
Antioxidants work fairly silently so you may not feel or see the results until 4 to 6 months of being on the protocol. However, there is much growing research which indicates the addition of well chosen, properly extracted antioxidants have beneficial effects on cellular and tissue maintenance.
If you are someone who “takes a big bite out of life” every day and burns the candle at both ends and in the middle as well, it is good practice to add these protective supplements to your daily regimen.
Click Here Learn More About this Protocol
Resources:
Healthline | Everyday Health | Live Science | Linus Pauling Institute | Medical News Today | CDC
What Are Bioflavonoids?
Bioflavonoids are a naturally occurring, diverse group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals). They contribute to the vibrant colors in fruits, vegetables, and even autumn foliage. There are currently over 4,000 flavonoid compounds that have been identified. The 6 common subclasses are anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, and isoflavones.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, scientists have recently turned to numerous flavonoids to explain the varying health benefits associated with diets rich in fruits and vegetables. These bioflavonoids are abundant in antioxidant agents. Antioxidants assists your body in fighting off and preventing damage to your cells caused by free radicals.
There are many additional benefits to flavonoids such as decreasing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and reducing chronic inflammation. Promotion of healthy connective tissue may also be evident, however more human in vivo studies are required.
The Roles of Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin
Proanthocyanidins are a type of chemical compound that give fruits, vegetables, and flowers of many plants their red, purple, amd blue color. These particular compounds have been found to possess an abundance of health benefits, including the potential reduction in cardiovascular disease. Shan Teixeira, PT quoted a 1979 Lancet publication described the so-called ‘‘French paradox,’’ in his article published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy and entitled “Bioflavonoids: Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin and Their Potential Roles in Treating Musculoskeletal Conditions“ about the French in particular and their lowered risk of cardiovascular disease due to their higher consumption of red wine. There seems to be strong correlation between high intakes of bioflavonoids and heart disease – even despite a high intake of saturated fats in the diet.
Quercetin is also classified as a flavonoid that assists with giving many fruits, flowers, and vegetables their colors. It’s been shown to present many health benefits, including the ability to decrease inflammation in the body. Alexander Victor Anand David et al wrote in an article published in Pharmacognosy Reviews and entitled “Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid” about quercetin and its ability to reduce inflammation. Overall there was mixed results – a significant reduction of inflammation present in healthy male athletes, but no significant change in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Inflammation and Tissue Degradation
Inflammation is a very normal immune response that occurs when your body detects an infection or injury. However, if inflammation becomes systemically chronic it can eventually lead to connective tissue degradation. According to Shan Teixeira, “this occurs through 2 primary mechanisms: proteolytic enzymes and oxygen-free radicals such as superoxide ion (O2), singlet, and hydroxyl radicals.”
Proteolytic enzymes refer to hydrolytic enzymes that break down proteins into their constituent parts by cleaving peptide bonds. These include elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase. They have been shown to be more prevalent in tissue with chronic conditions and also cause degradation of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
Oxygen-free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron, which means that they can react with other molecules to cause damage to cells. For example, the body produces hydroxyl radicals in the mitochondria as byproducts of its normal metabolism process, but these are neutralized by an enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD). When this enzyme is deficient or absent from within your body, the hydroxyl radical can run amok and contribute to conditions like arthritis.
So Can Bioflavonoids Ease Musculoskeletal Problems?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is recommended to intake at least 14 oz (i.e five portions) of fruits and vegetable per day. However only 1 in 10 adults actually eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. With a lack of these foods in our diets, comes a lack of the beneficial properties of flavonoids such as Proanthocyanidins and Quercetin. As a result, it makes room for chronic inflammation and other musculoskeletal conditions to run amok in our bodies.
Shan Teixeira goes on to outline in his article an alternative solution to assist in treating musculoskeletal conditions. Overall, this study found that flavonoids may be beneficial in treating chronic conditions where repeated or long-term use of NSAIDs may not be recommended.
In addition to their free radical scavenger and anti-inflammatory effects, there is evidence to suggest that flavonoids, specifically PCOs, have the ability to increase the strength and stability of collagen fibrils. As novel anti-inflammatory agents, inhibitors of tissue degradation, as well as promoters of phylactic measure against musculoskeletal injuries. (Teixeira)
Overall, bioflavonoids have shown to positively improve your health and wellbeing. They possess anti-inflammatory agents, are inhibitors of tissue degradation, as well as promoters of a strong connective tissue matrix. They are recommended to be taken via regular daily intake of fruits & vegetables, but can also be taken by a daily supplement if necessary. More human in vivo studies still need to be conducted, but it’s safe to say bioflavonoids show promise of being a beneficial companion to traditional treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
So What Do you Recommend?
Antioxidants may help to mitigate the potential negative effects of prolonged oxidative stress. Additionally, ingredients with antioxidant function have shown potential for reducing oxidative damage caused by exercise when taken by healthy individuals.
The protocol I created is intended to support healthy aging through ingredients focused on attenuating damage caused by oxidative stress. These are my picks for antioxidants that have shown clinical relevancy and have demonstrated good results after extended use.
Antioxidants work fairly silently so you may not feel or see the results until 4 to 6 months of being on the protocol. However, there is much growing research which indicates the addition of well chosen, properly extracted antioxidants have beneficial effects on cellular and tissue maintenance.
If you are someone who “takes a big bite out of life” every day and burns the candle at both ends and in the middle as well, it is good practice to add these protective supplements to your daily regimen.
Click Here Learn More
About this Protocol
Resources:
Healthline | Everyday Health | Live Science | Linus Pauling Institute | Medical News Today | CDC