American Society for Nutrition
J. Nutr. First published December 23, 2009; doi:10.3945/jn.109.117655
 Journal of Nutrition, doi:10.3945/jn.109.117655
Vol. 140, No. 2, 278-284, February 2010
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© 2010 American Society for Nutrition

Nutrient Physiology, Metabolism, and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Serum Lipid and Blood Pressure Responses to Quercetin Vary in Overweight Patients by Apolipoprotein E Genotype1,2

Sarah Egert3,4, Christine Boesch-Saadatmandi5, Siegfried Wolffram6, Gerald Rimbach5 and Manfred J. Müller4,*

3 Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, Nutritional Physiology, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; 4 Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany; 5 Department of Food Science, Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany; 6 Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany

Our objective was to examine the effect of a quercetin supplementation on blood pressure, lipid metabolism, markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and body composition in an at-risk population of 93 overweight-obese volunteers aged 25–65 y with metabolic syndrome traits in relation to apolipoprotein (apo) E genotype. Participants were randomized to receive 150 mg/d quercetin in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with 6-wk treatment periods separated by a 5-wk washout period. Retrospectively, 5 apoE genotype variants were found ({epsilon}2/{epsilon}3, n = 3; {epsilon}3/{epsilon}3, n = 60; {epsilon}3/{epsilon}4, n = 23; {epsilon}2/{epsilon}4, n = 4; and {epsilon}4/{epsilon}4, n = 3). Participants were classified into the following 3 apoE phenotypes: apoE2 (n = 3), apoE3 (n = 60), and apoE4 (n = 26). Data were analyzed for apoE3 and apoE4 subgroups. Quercetin decreased systolic blood pressure by 3.4 mm Hg (P < 0.01) in the apoE3 group, whereas no significant effect was observed in the apoE4 group. Quercetin decreased serum HDL cholesterol (P < 0.01) and apoA1 (P < 0.01) and increased the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio (P < 0.05) in the apoE4 subgroup, whereas the apoE3 subgroup had no significant changes in these variables. Quercetin significantly decreased plasma oxidized LDL and tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} in the apoE3 and apoE4 groups, whereas no significant inter-group differences were found. Serum C-reactive protein and nutritional status (body weight, waist circumference, fat mass, fat-free mass) were unaffected compared with placebo. In conclusion, quercetin exhibited blood pressure-lowering effects in overweight-obese carriers of the apo {epsilon}3/{epsilon}3 genotype but not in carriers of the {epsilon}4 allele. Furthermore, quercetin supplementation resulted in a reduction in HDL cholesterol and apoA1 in apo {epsilon}4 carriers.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mmueller{at}nutrfoodsc.uni-kiel.de.

Manuscript received 19 October 2009. Initial review completed 13 November 2009. Revision accepted 30 November 2009.

Published online 23 December 2009.