Also known as Japanese pagoda tree, the plant is part of the pea family. Its flavonoid quercetin is one of the most common found in several other botanical species, and is subject to many studies for its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.
According to Indena, there has been increased interest in the role quercetin may have in sports nutrition formulation (a search for “quercetin” and “sports” on research database PubMed returned 49 results, many of them conducted in the past few years). For example, one study from this year published in Nutrition Research linked quercetin to boosted antioxidant defenses and a protection against exercise-induced oxidative damage in 14 men conducting eccentric exercise.
But the company added that the use of quercetin has been limited because of its low bioavailability.
Phytosome technology boosts absorption
Quercefit was designed for a sports nutrition positioning, manufactured using the company’s patented Phytosome delivery system to ensure absorption. A pharmacokinetic study conducted by the company found that it was 20 times more bioavailable than quercetin not extracted through the company’s proprietary process.
“Quercefit is a fine powder, easy to formulate as stand-alone, or in combination with multi-component formulations, showing versatility in terms of formulative options,” according to the company.
A study still unpublished that was conducted by Indena found that 250 mg of Quercefit twice a day improved performance and recovery, as well as mitigated post-activity discomfort, in amateur athletes practicing for a triathlon.
Indena will be exhibiting the ingredient at its booth #1036 at SupplySide West 2018 next week.