Quercetin and mast cells

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:38 am

Has anyone tried quercetin for allergies, and specifically for keeping mast cells from being triggered in MC?

I am considering testing this out, and would be interested in hearing about anyone else's experience, positive or negative, plus opinions about brands, dosage, and whether pairing with bromelain is a good idea (or just gives you two new things to worry about).

Thanks for thoughts. A dear friend of my mother's used quercetin for seasonal allergies, many years ago, and had other health problems that are probably unconnected, but obviously I'd like to avoid them...

All my best,
Sara

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:17 pm

Sara,

I haven't tried quercetin but Dr. Theoharides receommends it. He is mast cell researcher at Tufts. He has a quercetin supplement coming out soon http://www.algonot.com/neuroprotek.php

Mary Beth

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:13 pm

I took quercetin once upon a time...I think I took it for my easy bruising and apparently weak capillaries. Can't hurt!

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:49 pm

I'd love to try this.

Mary Beth, didn't you say that it isn't tolerated well by those of us with MC? Or was I just seeing things?

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:00 pm

Hmm - wasn't me that said that. I don't know anyone who has taken that product yet. Some people on the mast cell site have said they can't tolerate quercetin, but I don't know the details.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:13 pm

Arlene,

I think Mary Beth recently said that not everyone tolerates quercetin well - which matches what she's reporting again from the mast-cells site.

I'm going to research the ingredients obsessively, start with less than a full dose, and keep an eye for side effects. I saw dosage recommendations on a site about interstitial cystitis, and they didn't sound insane. But it's possible that a much lower amount would be useful and effective... here's hoping. I am leaning toward a brand with minimal additional ingredients, though I have read the bromelain can help... kind of torn. I'll let you know,

Sara

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:20 pm

Meant to add - Mary Beth, thanks for the link. I wish this brand were out right now! Pondering options...

Though I really don't want to rock the boat by adding something that has its own potential issues, I would love to learn whether some foods affect me differently, with/without quercetin. That would be a smoking gun for mast-cells - maybe.

L,
S

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:26 pm

Have you thought about natural sources of quercetin . . onions, grapefruit etc??

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:55 pm

Mary Beth,

That's a good idea. I have a motivation to test foods anyway - if I had an issue with a supplement, I would always wonder whether a different brand would help, whether a rogue ingredient other than the active one might be to blame, etc. If I can rule a real food in or out - hopefully in - that affects meal planning and recipes and good eating. Thanks!

I will focus on that for now. I do eat onions pretty often. Maybe that's even why it seems to me that some foods affect me differently on different days - hard to say. I haven't had grapefruit other than a squeeze of juice in an appetizer.

I did make a big batch of iced tea this week (cold-brew... too hot even to boil water!).

Thanks for the great suggestion,

Sara

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:16 am

I looked back on some of the mast cell site posts. Some claim that it's too high in natural salicylates and they have a problem with this. Maybe, but I would guess there is some filler in there that they don't tolerate (they have far more intolerances than people here). I checked a few out brands at the health food store but think I will wait for Dr. Theo's product.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:24 am

Mary Beth,

Thanks for reporting back. I bet you're right about the filler. I don't think I have a super-high sensitivity to salicylates (despite my recent parting of the ways with almonds). I've been looking at a couple of GF/YF/*F brands, and weighing my options - I'll let you know if I 'jump' before Dr. Theo's product is available. I'm going to make a note of all the 'other' ingredients in the supplements that I'm now taking, and see if I can find a quercetin product that stays within that list (as imperfect a method as that may be).

I hope that being able to separate out mast-cell responses from other food intolerances will clarify things, but I'm not entirely certain it will be that clear-cut.

I really appreciate your help thinking about this! Meantime, I'm looking forward to a very onion-y dinner tonight ;)

Love,
Sara