Abstract
Objective: To study the relation between intake of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin and subsequent incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVA).
Design: A cohort study carried out among 9208 Finnish men and women 15 y or more of age and initially free from cardiovascular disease. During a 28 y follow-up period in 1967–1994, a total of 824 cases with CVA were diagnosed.
Methods: Food consumption data were collected using a dietary history interview method covering the total habitual diet during the previous year.
Results: Quercetin intake was not associated with CVA incidence. The relative risk of CVA adjusted for age, serum cholesterol, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, geographical area, occupation and intake of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, fibre, various fatty acids, and energy between the highest and lowest quartiles of quercetin intake was 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.71–1.38) for men and 0.85 (CI=0.60–1.21) for women. In contrast, apples, the major source of quercetin in the study population, showed a significant inverse association both in men and women, mainly due to an association with thrombotic or embolic stroke. The relative risks of thrombotic stroke after further adjustment for quercetin intake were 0.59 (CI=0.35–0.99; P=0.45) and 0.61 (CI=0.33–1.12: P for trend=0.02) for men and women, respectively.
Conclusions: The results suggest that the intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke. This association apparently is not due to the presence of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 415–417
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Guarantor: P Knekt.
Contributors: P Knekt supervised the project and prepared the drafts; S Isotupa initiated the study and contributed to the interpretation of the data; H Rissanen was responsible for data processing and did the statistical analyses; M Heliövaara evaluated the follow-up of the non-fatal stroke patients; A Reunanen evaluated the follow-up of causes of death including the fatal stroke cases; S Häkkinen estimated the flavonoid content in berries; R Järvinen estimated the flavonoid content of other sources; A Aromaa planned and conducted the collection of the baseline data. All investigators contributed to the paper.
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Knekt, P., Isotupa, S., Rissanen, H. et al. Quercetin intake and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease. Eur J Clin Nutr 54, 415–417 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600974
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600974
