Citrus Bioflavonoids

BASICS

Bioflavonoids are sometimes considered vitamins because they possess the properties of a vitamin and are referred as vitamin P. They are found in several forms including Hesperidin, Eriodictyl, Quercetrin, Rustin and Hesperitin. They cannot be produced by the body and have to be taken as supplements in diet.

REMEDY FOR

  • Vitamin C effective absorption from gut. 
  • Colds/Flu.
  • Asthma.
  • Infection.
  • Allergies.
  • Respiratory Problems.
  • Athletic injuries.

PREVENTION OF

  • Viral infections.
  • Inflammatory conditions.
  • Allergic states. 
  • Protects capillaries.
  • Prevents bruising.

USAGE DIRECTION

When doctors recommend supplementation, the most common amounts suggested are 1,000 mg of citrus bioflavonoids or 400 mg of Quercetin, each taken three times per day. One of the greatest effects of bioflavonoids is when they are combined with at least 2,500 mg of vitamin C and 1,500 mg of bromelain (an enzyme that comes from pineapple) per day.

SOURCES

Bioflavonoids are natural substances found in peel of citrus fruits, peppers, buckwheat and black currants. Other sources include apricots, cherries, grape fruit, grapes, lemons, oranges, prunes, rose hips. Herbs that contain bioflavonoids include chervil, elderberries, hawthorn, berry, horsetail, rose hips and sheperd's purse. The bioflavonoids Quercetin is available in capsule form as a supplement by itself. Rutin, commonly used in vitamin C supplements to boost its effectiveness, is derived from the buckwheat plant and provides a non-acidic source of vitamin C.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

No consistent toxicity has been linked to the bioflavonoids. The exception is for a bioflavonoid called cianidanol, which is not found in supplements.

OVERDOSE

Acute Overdose: None
Chronic Overdose: None
What to do: For an acute overdose, call your doctor, emergency medical services (EMS), or the nearest poison control center immediately. For symptoms of chronic overdose, contact your doctor.

WHAT TO DO

What to do: For an acute overdose, call your doctor, emergency medical services (EMS), or the nearest poison control center immediately. For symptoms of chronic overdose, contact your doctor.

CAUTION

There are no well-known drug interactions with bioflavonoids.