Bioflavonoids, are phytochemicals, or chemicals found in plant sources. The reason that foods like fruits and other plants have diverse colors is due to the species of bioflavonoids that are present in them. The body cannot produce bioflavonoids, they must be supplied in the diet. Bioflavonoids were discovered by Albert Szent-Györgyi, in the 1930s. Bioflavonoids are not vitamins, however the vitamin P is an other name for them.

Bioflavonoids Benefits

Flavonoids are potentially important as antioxidants, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories. Powerful antioxidant effect, they help to avoid cell damage by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. Capillary blood vessels, acts synergistically with vitamin C to protect the structure. Atherosclerosis, is one condition that bioflavonoids can help avoid. Bioflavonoids are important for proper absorption of Vitamin C. Researches have proven  their ability to enhance and prolong the action of vitamin C. Although all bioflavonoids have similar structures, their functions are different.

Different Types Bioflavonoids;

• Citrus Bioflavonoids

Citrus bioflavonoids are natural pigments found in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tangerines. Clinical trials has demonstrated the effects of citrus bioflavonoids in treating ailments of the blood vessels and lymph system, including chronic venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, leg ulcers, nosebleeds, easy bruising and lymphedema. Citrus bioflavonoids can decrease the risk of different cancers, including cancers of the stomach, prostate, breast, lung, pancreatic and colon cancers. Also, citrus bioflavonoids are necessary for the effective utilization of Vitamin C by the body. There is a mutual relationship between Vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids as they work to mutually increase the action of each other. Daily dose; 2000-6000 mg.

• Quercetin

Quercetin is a plant based chemical known as a flavanoid. Is found in high quantity in apple skins, onions, tea, and red wine. It is one of the most biologically active bioflavonoids. Quercetin acts as a bioavailability enhancer for many other substances by slowing their metabolic conversion to other substances. Epidemiological studies suggest  quercetin consumption is associated with reduced risk of various types of cancer, and heart disease.

Quercetin works as an antioxidant by scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Quercetin has demonstrated significant activity in helping with inflammation of direct activity of several initial pathways that can lead to an inflammatory response. Quercetin shows antiinflammatory action by its direct antioxidant action and inhibition of inflammatory mediators and enzymes, such as lipoxygenase. Its anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the pain of arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.

Quercetin is “one of the strongest anti-cancer agents known.”, according to Terence Leighton, Prof. of biochemistry at the “University of California at Berkeley“. One clinical  trial of individuals with a potent inherited tendency to develop colorectal cancer found that the combination of curcumin and quercetin reduced the number and size of precancerous rectal tumors.

Quercetin has a strong affinity for mast cells and basophils. In test tubes, quercetin prevents immune cells from releasing histamines, chemicals that cause allergic reactions. Quercetin inhibits production of histamine by stabilizing basophils and mast cells. This means that it can be helpful for allergies, asthma, and hay fever.

Oral dose of 500 mg three times per day  clinical practice. Quercetin has been safely used in amounts up to 500 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. If the water-soluble quercetin chalcone is used the dose is 250 mg 3 times daily. Quercetin absorption is maximized by combining it with bromelain, a pineapple extract proven to enhance digestion of nutrients.

• Green Tea Polyphenols

The polyphenols found in tea are known as catechins. The key catechins in green tea are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC) and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Various researches have showed green tea polyphenols preventative and inhibitory activity against tumor formation and growth. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 % of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea contains between 3 and 10 %.

Findings for the medicinal effects of polyphenols in green tea for the prevention of chronic diseases such as different types of cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases is advancing. A study that followed 8,500 Japanese men and women for 12 years found that men who drank at least 4 cups /day of green tea had a risk of death from coronary heart disease that was only 58 percent that of men who drank 1.3 cups/day or less. Animal-based studies, mice  bred to develop Alzheimer’s disease developed up to 54 % less beta-amyloid buildup in their brains when they  were given daily injections  EGCg. Beta-amyloid plaques are considered to be a major factor of the brain cell death and tissue loss seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

Some researches show that the polyphenols most prevalent in green tea are far more potent in suppressing free radicals than vitamins C or E. According to scientists at the University of Kansas, the antioxidant capacity of EGCG is approximately 100 times greater than that of vitamin C and 25 times greater than that of vitamin E in protecting DNA from the kind of free radical damage that is thought to increase the risk of cancer. Anti-oxidant action protects cells from lipid peroxidation and DNA damage induced by reactive free radicals.

Green tea polyphenol capsules are usually equivalent to five or more cups of tea. For a green tea extract standardized for 80 % polyphenols and 55 % epigallocatechin gallate, a daily dose of 300 to 400 mg green tea extracts is recommended. The generally used dose of green tea is based on the amount consumed in Asian countries, providing 240-320 mg (three cups a day) of the active ingredients polyphenols.

• Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPC)

Grape seed and pine bark extracts are considered the important sources of proanthocyanidins.  Pine bark extract contains 80-85% OPCs while grape seed extract contains 90-95% OPCs. Among basic effects is the ability to strengthen the blood vessels, seek out free radicals, and slow down the destruction of collagen. Proanthocyanidins appear to be particularly effectual in neutralizing highly reactive hydroxyl and singlet oxygen radicals.

Proanthocyanidins, have been shown to increase capillary strength in patients with diabetes and hypertension. Individuals with high blood pressure have weakened capillaries that allow fluid to pass through the walls and into the tissues quite easily. French scientists have found that OPCs (grape seed) increase capillary resistance by 25% in individuals with high blood pressure and diabetes.

Proanthocyanidins, may help slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. By Chinese researchers, grape seed proanthocyanidin had been reported to be effectual in treating diabetic nephropathy. Also in some studies, OPCs have been shown to relieve eyestrain in computer users, to decrease retinopathy among patients with diabetes, and to improve the function of the retina in nearsighted people.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 71 participant found that OPCs (grape seed), taken at a dose of 100 mg three times daily, significantly improved symptoms, including swelling, and leg discomfort.  Over a time of one month, 75 percent of the subjects treated with OPCs developed quite. In other double-blind study, French scientists reported that women with chronic venous insufficiency had reduced symptoms using 150 mg per day.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 124 men with moderate erectile dysfunction were randomized to take pine bark extract and arginine (Prelox) or placebo for six months. The participants who took Prelox experienced development in their condition over placebo. A 2003 Bulgarian trial on 40 men aged 25-45 concluded that oral use of arginine in combination with pycnogenol causes a significant development in sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. This study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins support wholesome immune responses. Researchers at the “University of Arizona” found that OPCs (Pycnogenol) helps build resistance to cancer by as much as 40 to 50% by boosting the body’s first line of cancer defense, the immune system’s NK (natural killer) cells. Dose of general use; 50 m of pine bark or grape seed. For maximum benefit; 150-300 mg/day.

Ubiquinol is the reduced, active antioxidant form of  CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10). Researches show supplement with Ubiquinol to be up to eight times more effective at increasing the concentration of ubiquinol in your blood plasma. CoQ10 highest levels are found in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. The level of CoQ10 in tissues decreases as people get older.In 1977 the “Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine” reported that a 77 year old person has 57 % less Coenzyme Q10 than a 20 year old.

Coenzyme Q10 is produced primarily in the liver and then converted to ubiquinol in the body through an enzymatic process known as the redox cycle which is short for reduction oxidation. More than 90 percent of the circulating Coenzyme Q10 in our body is present as Ubiquinol. Coenzyme Q10 levels within the body usually begin decreasing as early as age 20, suggesting that it has a close connection with aging. Without adequate levels of these critical substances, the body produces less energy and lacks a powerful defense against oxidative stress. It may be possible to achieve the sustained high blood levels of biologically active ubiquinol Coenzyme Q10 necessary to delay particular manifestations of aging and its related disorders.

Ubiquinol Benefits

Ubiquinol is a powerful  antioxidant used to support optimum cardiovascular and nervous system health. Ubiquinol rates have been shown to be suppressed in older people and those with cardiovascular, liver, neurological, and diabetes related diseases. This substance is used usually to avoid or treat cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse, and angina.

Antioxidant

Ubiquinol is a strong antioxidant that helps protect our body from free radical damage. A essential role for ubiquinol is to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Coenzyme Q10 is a important component in the production of 95 percent of cellular energy in the body. Ubiquinol has been shown to be an substantial fat-soluble antioxidant with the capability to protect and regenerate Vitamin E in cell membranes.

Energy

Ubiquinol is the antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 and is necessary for mitochondrial synthesis of energy. The energy each cell produces is in the form of a molecule named ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is made in the energy powerhouse of the cell known as the mitochondria. Ubiquinol has been shown to promote ATP production in the mitochondrial inner membrane. A common study between Tsukuba University and Waseda University showed positive effects of ubiquinol on middle-aged and elderly women. Following an 8-week period of supplement with 150 mg ubiquinol per day, participants displayed important improvements in physical activity and mental health scores.

Heart

CHF (congestive heart failure) means the heart cannot pump enough blood to keep up with the body’s needs. Patients with heart failure have been found to have lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in heart muscle cells. In a clinical study of patients with congestive heart failure were given 580 mg per day of ubiquinone. These individuals found increases in blood levels of CoQ10 levels, along with important developments in the ejection fraction of the heart and improvement of the left ventricle, the part of the heart that sends blood out to the body. In other, randomized placebo controlled, double-blind study, 641 people with more severe congestive heart failure were given either a placebo or 150 mg/day of Coenzyme Q10 for one year. The number of patients requiring hospitalization because of worsening failure was 38 percent less in the Coenzyme Q10 group. Ubiquinol were associated with improvements in the capability of the heart to pump blood, as well as general heart health scores, according to results reported in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition“.

In one double-blind study, therapy with 150 mg/day of CoQ10 for 4 weeks, the episodes of chest pain was decreased in the treatment group by 53 percent. One clinical trial found that patients who took daily ubiquinol within 3 days of a heart attack were less likely to have subsequent heart attacks and chest pain. Also, some researchs suggest that ubiquinol may help avoid heart damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs, adriamycin.

Blood Pressure

A meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials demonstrated systolic blood pressure could reduce up to 17 mm Hg, while diastolic blood pressure could decrease up to 10 mm Hg with Ubiquinol. In a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 74 patient with diabetes, use of Coenzyme Q10 at a dose of 100 mg twice daily important decreased blood pressure as compared to placebo.

Statin Drugs

Long-term use of statin drugs can increase risk of nerve damage and rhabdomyolysis. That because statins decrease the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that’s involved in both cholesterol and Coenzyme Q10 production. Statin medications have been shown to lower CoQ10 levels by 40 percent, while aging has been shown to reduce Coenzyme Q10levels by 72 percent. Ubiquinol may help limit muscle pain from taking statins and help  avoid rhabdomyolysis. A double-blind study found CoQ10 can decrease muscle pain associated with statin medication use. participants were given 100 mg Coenzyme Q10 for 30 days finding pain severity decreased by 40 percent, and pain interference with daily activities decreased by 38 percent in the Coenzyme Q10 group.

Infertility

According to researchers, the amount of Coenzyme Q10 in the seminal fluid of men has a correlation to their sperm count and sperm motility. Ubiquinol may increase sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men. A study reported  in 2012 ” The Journal of Urology” investigated the effects of the ubiquinol in participants with male infertility.  A total of 228 men participated in the double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized clinical trial over a 26-week cure period. The study findings showed that supplement with 200 mg of ubiquinol per day important improved sperm density, sperm motility, and sperm strict morphology. In a study conducted at the Polytechnic University of Marche 60 infertile men between the ages of 27 and 39 were given a daily dose of 200 mg of Coenzyme Q10 or placebo for six months, with a three-month follow-up. Coenzyme Q10 increased significantly in seminal plasma and sperm cells after therapy.

Migraine

Studies show it can reduce the frequency of headaches by approximately 30% and the number of days with headache-related nausea by approximately 45% in adults. 32 patients with  migraine were treated with 150 mg of Coenzyme Q10 daily. More than 60 %of the participants experienced a 50 % or greater reduction in the number of days they suffer headaches. After 3 month their migraine frequency fell by an approximate of 55 %.

Parkinson

In 2002, a study was reported which examined the effects of CoQ 10 in people with early Parkinson’s disease. The researchers in that multi-center study  found that Coenzyme Q10 reduced the functional decline in Parkinson’s disease. (2002 study in 80 Parkinson’s disease patients found 1200 mg/day reduced the progression by 44 percent)

Immune System

Sufficient ubiquinol status is essential for the healthy functioning of our immune system. Research findings indicate that ubiquinol is an critical component, likely at the mitochondrial level, for the optimum function of the immune system. Models of the immune system including phagocytic rate, circulating antibody level, neoplasia, viral  infections were used to demonstrate that ubiquinol is an immunomodulating agent. In a study of 8 chronically ill patients, administration  of 60 mg/day of Coenzyme Q10 was associated with noteworthy  increases in serum levels of IgG (immunoglobulin G) after 27-98 days of cure.

Ubiquinol Dosage

For the first 2-3 weeks, 200-300mg per day is a recommended level to replenish body’s ubiquinol levels. Later, a maintenance dose of 100-200mg per day should be enough. Ideal blood levels for those afflicted with congestive heart failure or neurological disorders are considered to be greater than 3.5 micrograms per milliliter. A clinical trial demonstrated that supplementation with only 150 mg per day (within 28 days) of ubiquinol resulted in CoQ10 blood levels of 3.84 mcg/mL. In study participants who took 300 mg per day of ubiquinol, blood CoQ10 levels reached 7.28 mcg/mL.

Some of the doses used in studies;

For reducing the risk of next cardiac problems in individuals with recent myocardial infarction; 120 mg daily in two divided doses. For congestive heart failure; 90 to 200 mg. For angina; 150 mg. For high blood pressure; 120-200 mg per day divided into two doses. For Parkinson’s disease; 1,200 mg. For migraines; 100 to 150 mg. For infertility in men; 200-300 mg per day. For HIV/AIDs; 200 mg. For gums; 30–100 mg.

Hesperidin (C28H34O15) is a flavanone glycoside comprised of the flavanone hesperitin and the disaccharide rutinose. The flavonoid hesperidin is primarily found in citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons. Maximum of the hesperidin in these fruits are found in the membranes and peel. A lack of this bioflavonoid in the diet has been linked with abnormal capillary leakiness as well as pain in the extremities causing aches, weakness and night leg cramps. Hesperidin alone, or in combination with other bioflavonoids, is usually used for vascular conditions such as  varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Hesperidin Food Sources

Oranges, tangerine, lemons, grapefruit, unfiltered orange juice, orange marmalade are the richest sources of hesperidin.

Hesperidin Benefits

Hesperidin, is most often used for blood vessel conditions such as hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and poor circulation. Hesperidin works best when given with Vitamin C and other bioflavonoids. Hesperidin provides necessary support molecules for vitamin C absorption and is most effective when taken at the same time. Hesperidin with Vitamin C  may assist in the cure of colds by reducing the severity and duration of symptoms, relaxation of the symptoms of hay fever, assist in the maintenance of peripheral circulation. Hesperidin, in combination with a flavone glycoside named diosmin, is used in Europe for the therapy of hemorrhoids and venous insufficiency . A 500-mg dose of this  product is comprised of 450 mg of diosmin and 50 mg of hesperidin.

In  two-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 120 patients with recurrent hemorrhoid flare-ups found that therapy with combined hesperidin and diosmin significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hemorrhoid attacks. In a twelve-week trial of 50 pregnant women suffering acute hemorrhoids, micronized hesperidin/diosmin treatment was reported to be a effective and safe therapy. Of the participants , 66% obtained relief from acute hemorrhoid symptoms within 4 days, and noteworthy fewer patients experienced a relapse of symptoms during the post-birth period. In another study, this combination was found to compare favorably with surgical treatment of hemorrhoids.

Supplementation containing a combination of hesperidin, ascorbic acid and butcher’s broom may help treat chronic venous insufficiency, according to a 2007 research reported in” International Angiology“. A multicentre international study involving 5000 participant with chronic venous insufficiency evaluated Diosmin. Patients were treated with 50 mg hesperidin and 450 mg diosmin daily for 6 months. Continuous clinical amelioration was found throughout the trial also improvements in quality of life scores for patients. Another 2-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the effects of hesperidin/diosmin in 107 patient with nonhealing leg ulcers caused by venous insufficiency or other conditions. The findings indicated that cure significantly improved the rate of healing.

Hesperidin improves the health of capillaries by reducing the capillary permeability. Also, can decrease histamine release from mast cells by strengthening the cell membrane. Hesperidin fights allergic reactions by blocking the release of histamine.

Hesperidin exhibited important anti-cancer property against some selected human carcinoma cell lines. In Japanese researches suggest that the dietary use of diosmin and hesperidin may provide a protective activity against some types of cancer in rats. These researches reported that hesperidin and diosmin  appear to inhibit the development of colonic and oral neoplasms, and significantly reduce certain cell proliferation biomarkers.