One of the common health benefit claims that we’ve heard about quercetin is that it boosts energy. In fact, there is a company called FRS that makes a line of sports drinks, chews and powders promoting just that. It’s called FRS Energy + Endurance.
But is this claim true? Does quercetin really boost energy and increase endurance? Let’s take a look at the information I discovered.
An interesting article in Men’s Journal reported on research performed at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health by Professor of Exercise Science Mark Davis. It showed that quercetin increased mitochondrial density in laboratory mice.
These show some interesting findings, and here’s why. We know that to enhance athletic performance, we must increase the number of mitochondria we have and make them better.
In a separate human study, Davis found that athletic endurance grew by over 13%. In addition, subjects used and stored oxygen 3% more than their placebo counterparts. This happened after just 7 days. That said, the study involved only 12 subjects.
Conflicting Results in Quercetin Studies
The New York Times had an article that discussed multiple studies done on the supposed energy benefits of quercetin. Researchers found conflicting results.
Some analysis showed positive results. However, other experiments showed no speed or endurance difference between subjects taking quercetin and those taking a placebo.
Prevention Magazine gives the thumbs down for quercetin supplements when it comes to energy and endurance. They stated that this flavonoid produced minimal effects. Plus, they mentioned that “The most promising research for quercetin has focused on its ability to reduce pain and inflammation for men with prostate problems”.
I came across some interesting information in Forbes. Mindy Millard-Stafford, a researcher at Georgia Tech, analyzed the results of several clinical trials done on quercetin. She discovered that quercetin sustained a significant increase in endurance performance. However, basic caffeine provided twice the benefit of the flavonol.
Although caffeine produced a greater energy effect than quercetin, the flavonoid still offers a viable alternative to those wanting to avoid caffeine.
In this case, people looking for a more powerful natural caffeine-free supplement, take a look at Source Naturals Activated Quercetin or quercetin dihydrate. Or even plain old quercetin foods.
So, Does Quercetin Give You Energy?
I think the jury is still out on this one.
The FRS drink may work for some people. However, we need to factor in other ingredients listed on the product label. These include caffeine, green tea leaf extract and B vitamins, which may also contribute to an energy boost.
Quercetin Provides Another Health Benefit for Athletes
Whether or not it boosts energy or endurance, quercetin provides yet another health benefit to those who exercise often. I came across a journal article on PubMed, “Protective effects of Quercetin and chronic moderate exercise (training) against oxidative stress in the liver tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats”. The findings show that quercetin provides a protective effect on oxidative stress on liver tissue due to chronic moderate exercise.