Quercetin Vs Alpha Lipoic Acid
Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.
Both quercetin and alpha lipoic acid act as exceptional antioxidants and possess the potential to help with a varying range of health conditions ranging from degenerative brain disorders to heart disease to cancer. Despite many similar benefits, they are different molecules and so in their effects on the body. People often compare the benefits of using quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid to understand which one to pick. Keep reading to learn more about their effects and benefits.
In this article, we’ll be placing quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid against each other to understand which one wins in favoring the human body and helping with disease conditions. But before we get into the difference between quercetin and alpha lipoic acid, we’ll need to learn the basics of these two super antioxidants a little bit more. So, let’s get started.
Table of contents
- What is quercetin?
- What is alpha lipoic acid?
- Quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid: role and function
- Quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid: potential benefits
- Final words
What is quercetin?
Quercetin is a polyphenol plant pigment that belongs to a large group of compounds called flavonoids. It’s considered the most prevalent flavonoid with tremendous antioxidant properties. It naturally occurs in a wide variety of plants and plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, and herbs such as raw red onions, berries, apples, green teas, nuts, and seeds.
The antioxidant activities of quercetin have been found to play an important role in reducing
cell damage caused by oxidative stress, which is often found the underlying root cause of chronic diseases. It’s why quercetin supplements are often recommended for chronic conditions such as inflammation and allergies.
What is alpha lipoic acid?
Alpha lipoic acid, also commonly known just lipoic acid or thioctic acid, is a fatty acid substance naturally produced in the human body. It’s present in every cell, more specifically mitochondria, the cellular powerhouse where foods are turned into fuels or energy. It’s also an antioxidant as well.
Alpha lipoic acid is also found in many animal and plant foods. Certain animal tissues, particularly organ meats such as the liver, heart, and kidneys contain the highest concentrations of alpha lipoic acid. Plant-based sources that contain considerable quantities of this nutrient may include walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, and many others.
Quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid: role and function
Quercetin is a plant flavonoid and isn’t essentially required in the human body. However, flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and are used to promote health. Quercetin has several pharmacological actions such as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral activities.
Besides, it supports the attenuation of platelet aggregation, mitochondrial biogenesis, capillary permeability, and lipid peroxidation. However, the primary function of quercetin involves its unparalleled antioxidant activities and favorable effects on immune response and inflammation.
On the other hand, alpha lipoic acid is a human product that is essential for growth and maintenance. It acts as a coenzyme and plays an important role in assisting the sequence of chain reactions in the mitochondrial process that turns foods into energy.
In addition. Alpha lipoic acid serves as a potent antioxidant in the body. It helps scavenge free radicals produced in biological processes in the body. Free radicals are damaging molecules containing unstable oxygen, making them highly reactive that can induce large chain reactions and cause oxidative damage to cell membranes, and DNA, and even cause cell and tissue death. Alpha lipoic acid has the capacity to neutralize free radicals that can prevent a wide range of diseases.
Quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid: potential benefits
As a powerful antioxidant, quercetin can help with a whole range of varying health conditions, particularly those related to inflammation and immunity. As these processes are the root of almost all diseases, quercetin has been found beneficial in nearly all diseases. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways in which quercetin has been found effective:
Health benefits of quercetin
- Helps attenuate inflammation
- Protects cells and tissues from oxidative damage
- Protects against degenerative nerve and brain disorders (such as dementia, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s disease)
- Controls blood pressure
- Lessens heart disease risks
- Alleviates symptoms of allergies
- May help control blood sugar levels
- Helps prevent cancer
On the other hand, alpha lipoic acid encourages the cellular production of other substances that serve as antioxidants in the body. This strengthens the antioxidant network in the body and makes it easier for all organ systems to perform optimally, which is vital for health and disease prevention. Let’s take a look what are health benefits alpha lipoic acid offers:
Health benefits of alpha lipoic acid
- Promotes heart health
- Helps keep thyroid hormones at a healthy level
- Protects muscles health, especially from stress induced by exercise
- Promotes nervous system and function
- Protects the liver
- Promotes graceful aging
- Supports healthy skin
- Promotes a sharp memory and cognitive function
- Assists a healthy body composition
- Helps keep blood glucose levels in control
- Helps treat ear infections (otitis media)
- May help in treating glaucoma
- May help in cancer prevention
Final words
In the conclusion of the comparison of quercetin vs alpha lipoic acid, we find that both possess remarkable antioxidant properties that can promote health in many different ways and help with a range of conditions ranging from nervous system disorders to cardiovascular diseases.
Quercetin is a plant compound that can be obtained only through foods or supplements, while alpha lipoic acid is produced naturally within the body through cellular biological processes in which the body turns foods into energy. It all depends on the personal health status in which situations one will outperform the other. Work with a licensed naturopathic doctor to know which one is perfect for your specific health conditions.
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Here you can see Vorst’s high-quality Alpha Lipoic Acid 300 Mg Capsules
Important resources:
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-294/quercetin
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/quercetin#:~:text=Quercetin%20may%20help%20protect%20against,anti%2Dinflammatory%20and%20antihistamine%20effect
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/quercetin
- https://www.transparentlabs.com/blogs/all/quercetin-vs-coq10#:~:text=The%20flavonoid%20Quercetin%20is%20not,the%20mitochondrial%20electron%20transport%20chain
- https://www.performancelab.com/blogs/energy/which-is-better-quercetin-or-coq10
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-767/alpha-lipoic-acid
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/alpha-lipoic-acid
- https://explore.globalhealing.com/alpha-lipoic-acid-benefits-side-effects/
- https://www.neuroneeds.com/energyneeds-ingredients/quercetin-as-quercetin-dihydrate/
- https://in.iherb.com/blog/meet-alpha-lipoic-acid-the-anti-inflammatory-antioxidant/502
- https://www.progressivenutracare.com/blogs/news/alpha-lipoic-acid-the-other-ala-that-works-against-neuropathy