Posted by Sulpicia on June 18, 2001, at 18:26:17
In reply to Quercetin, posted by mocdoc on June 18, 2001, at 11:52:46
>
> Quercetin is a bioflavonoid recommended for prostatitis which I suffer from along with Bipolar II disorder. I have started and stopped quercetin (400 mg thrice daily) on three occasions (but never again!) and each time have become depressed after 2-5 days. A prominent urologist who frequently prescribes quercetin told me he never saw anyone get depressed on it (but maybe he has no depressives or Bipolars in his practice). Quercetin inhibits cytochrome P-450 metabolism and dietary flavonoids in sufficient amounts inhibit 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which would raise cortisol levels-bad news for Bipolars! I guess lots of licorice would do the same.Has anyone ever heard of quercetin causing depression?
> mocdocFrankly nobody has a clear idea of how the stuff works but if your uro had troubled himself
to read up a bit:
1. Ogasawara H, Middleton E Jr. Effect of selected flavonoids on histamine release (HR) and
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation by human leukocytes [abstract]. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
1985;75(suppl):184.2. Middleton E Jr. Effect of flavonoids on basophil histamine release and other secretory systems.
Prog Clin Biol Res. 1986;213:493–506.3. Yoshimoto T, Furukawa M, Yamamoto S, et al. Flavonoids: potent inhibitors of arachidonate
5-lipoxygenase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1983;116:612–618.4. Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a
preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54:960–963.He might get a clue on what is known about it and why it should be off limits for you specifically.
Any substance which alters the reactions of arachidonic acid is *highly* bioactive especially on neurochemistry. In fact,
quercetin is messing with the specific system which the recent work of A. Stoll [on omega-3 essential fatty acids for bp -- see his homepage
at Harvard for the particulars]has targeted -- no wonder you're depressed.By inhibiting the 5-lipoxygenase you raise the level of arachidonic acid [this is what gets lowered in Stoll's research to help bipolars]which in turn
effectively [thru complex reactions] decreases the level of eicosapentic acid, relatively low levels of which are associated with severe depression in bipolar.
It's a helluva a lot more complicated than this but I have no doubt that the 2 classes of prostaglandins released in the presense of high levels of arachidonic
acid *may* be specifically effective in reducing prostate inflammation -- unfortunately it's off limits to people with bipolar, depression, diabetes, and possibly
those with forms of hyperlipidemia.
The uro is damn lucky that you stopped using the stuff -- considering he *prescribed* a substance about which he apparently knew nothing.
If the 1999 study above is as good as the evidence gets, a malpractice lawyer would have a field day.I'm glad you're OK and I hope the prostate remits soonest.
S.
poster:Sulpicia
thread:66970
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010618/msgs/67000.html