Abstract 13683: Deciphering the Effects of Quercetin on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension, a key driver of global cardiovascular diseases, has prompted interest in nutritional solutions like dietary supplements for managing blood pressure. The flavonoid quercetin, found in fruits and vegetables, has garnered attention for potential antihypertensive effects, although research on quercetin supplementation's impact on blood pressure has yielded varied outcomes. Hypothesis: This study aims to assess Quercetin supplementation's effects on blood pressure to comprehend its potential role in hypertension management. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus databases until December 2022 to include studies on the effects of Quercetin supplementation on blood pressure. The Mean Difference in Blood Pressure was used as the pooled effect size to compare the impact of Quercetin on patients, calculated with a random-effects model in R (version 4.0.3) using the metafor and meta packages. The I2 statistic was employed to evaluate heterogeneity. Results: The meta-analysis included ten studies with 743 participants, with 372 and 371 in the Quercetin and placebo/control groups, respectively. Quercetin supplementation in patients diagnosed with hypertension led to a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (MD: -3.19 mmHg; 95% CI: -4.41 to -1.99, P<0.01, I2=73%). However, the reduction in diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant (MD: -2.65 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.79 to 1.51, P=0.21, I2=98%). In individuals with normal blood pressure, quercetin supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (MD: -2.97 mmHg; 95% CI: -4.72 to -1.22, P<0.01, I2=74%), while its effect on diastolic blood pressure was not significant (MD: -2.99 mmHg; 95% CI: -10.18 to 4.21, P=0.42, I2=99%). Conclusions: The results indicate that quercetin supplementation notably lowers systolic blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive individuals, but its impact on diastolic blood pressure is insignificant. These findings hint at Quercetin's potential as an auxiliary treatment for systolic hypertension, with a need for more high-quality, randomized controlled trials to determine its optimal dosage and duration.