Quercetin vs Quercetin Phytosome
How quercetin and quercetin phytosome differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
This page contains affiliate links. Titrate earns a small commission when you purchase through them, at no cost to you. This does not affect our recommendations.
Side by Side
| Quercetin (Aglycone or Dihydrate) | Quercetin Phytosome (Quercefit) | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Low | Moderate |
| How it is absorbed | Poorly water soluble and absorbed less well than the quercetin glucosides in onions. Absorbed quercetin is conjugated in the gut wall and liver. | Lecithin complex. Plasma quercetin was up to about twentyfold higher than with the unformulated aglycone in a crossover study. |
| Typical dose | 500-1,000 mg daily | 250-500 mg daily |
| Common uses | allergy symptoms (marketed), blood pressure (small trials) | allergy symptoms (marketed) |
| Side effects | Headache, tingling. | Headache. |
| Cost | Low | Moderate |
| Also called | quercetin dihydrate, anhydrous quercetin | Quercefit, quercetin-lecithin complex |
| Labels in index | 8 | 18 |
When to Choose Quercetin (Aglycone or Dihydrate)
Choose quercetin when you want the form most trials used at the lowest cost. The standard form in most trials. Pairing with bromelain is common, but no human data show it improves absorption.
Quercetin (Aglycone or Dihydrate)
The form most trials used. Cheap and poorly absorbed.
What to look for: 500 mg capsules of quercetin dihydrate. Bromelain adds cost, not proven absorption.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Quercetin Phytosome (Quercefit)
Choose quercetin phytosome when you want higher blood levels at a lower dose. Same manufacturer as Meriva curcumin; the absorption study was industry funded.
Quercetin Phytosome (Quercefit)
Much better absorbed than plain quercetin at a lower dose, with industry-funded data.
What to look for: Quercefit or quercetin phytosome, 250-500 mg daily.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 8 labels named as quercetin products list quercetin and 18 list quercetin phytosome.
Quercetin does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.
Related
References
Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University. Flavonoids.
Ferry DR, Smith A, Malkhandi J, et al. Phase I clinical trial of the flavonoid quercetin: pharmacokinetics and evidence for in vivo tyrosine kinase inhibition. Clin Cancer Res. 1996;2(4):659-668.
Heinz SA, Henson DA, Austin MD, Jin F, Nieman DC. Quercetin supplementation and upper respiratory tract infection: a randomized community clinical trial. Pharmacol Res. 2010;62(3):237-242.
Murota K, Matsuda N, Kashino Y, et al. alpha-Oligoglucosylation of a sugar moiety enhances the bioavailability of quercetin glucosides in humans. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2010;501(1):91-97.
Weng Z, Zhang B, Asadi S, et al. Quercetin is more effective than cromolyn in blocking human mast cell cytokine release and inhibits contact dermatitis and photosensitivity in humans. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e33805.
Serban MC, Sahebkar A, Zanchetti A, et al. Effects of quercetin on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(7):e002713.
Riva A, Ronchi M, Petrangolini G, Bosisio S, Allegrini P. Improved oral absorption of quercetin from quercetin phytosome, a new delivery system based on food grade lecithin. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2019;44(2):169-177.
Di Pierro F, Derosa G, Maffioli P, et al. Possible therapeutic effects of adjuvant quercetin supplementation against early-stage COVID-19 infection: a prospective, randomized, controlled, and open-label study. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:2359-2366.