BOONE—Appalachian State University researchers have received a $1.027 million grant to continue their research of the health benefits of quercetin, a substance that has been proven to reduce illness and help maintain mental performance in physically stressed test subjects.

The grant has been awarded by Quercegen Pharma based in Newton, Mass., which markets QU995, a highly purified (99.5 percent pure) quercetin, a natural antioxidant derived from plants.

This is the largest one-year research grant awarded to the university and will involve the largest number of test subjects—1,000 participants over the next year.

Members of the interdisciplinary research team are Drs. David Nieman, Steve McAnulty and John Quindry from the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science; Dr. Dru Henson from the Department of Biology; and Drs. Joshua Broman-Fulks and Will Canu from the Department of Psychology.

Nieman, who is the primary investigator for the project, and other faculty at Appalachian began their research of quercetin using QU995 in 2005 through a two-year, $1.1 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense. As a result of their findings, the supplement is being tested by the military to help maintain the immune systems of troops who are undergoing the physical and cognitive stresses of combat.

In the new study, researchers will determine quercetin’s health benefits when consumed by members of the general population who are undergoing the typical stress experienced in everyday life.

“Our primary objective is to determine if highly purified quercetin in combination with certain vitamins can reduce sickness rates in people other than elite athletes or war fighters,” Nieman said. “We know that obese individuals, and individuals who experience high stress have more infections. So do those with disease risk factors and diseases that compromise immunity. We are hoping that people who are in these stress zones will especially benefit from taking this substance.”

Participants will be divided into groups according to their age and wellness.

“We want 500 men and women between ages 18 and 75 recruited by Thanksgiving,” Nieman said. Another 500 participants will begin the study during fall 2008.

Participants will take either a placebo or a chewable form of quercetin (similar to a small chewy candy) twice a day for 12 weeks. Participants won’t have to alter their dietary or exercise practices during the study. They will be asked to provide information about their current health status, such as age, height, weight, disease and risk factors, keep a daily wellness diary and have a blood sample drawn and blood pressure tested twice during the study.

Participants in the study also will take a computer-based test that will be used to measure memory, attention, alertness and planning functions. Researchers will also survey participants’ quality of life, anxiety and stress levels.

“We are accepting everybody into this study regardless of age or fitness, but we think that people with disease and risk factors—such as high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer and who have more inflammation—are more likely to see a benefit from taking the quercetin supplement.”

Nieman hypothesizes that taking quercetin will reduce the incidence and severity of upper respiratory tract infections, augment mental vigilance and mood, and reduce inflammation and blood lipids.

Participants will receive $300 and free results from an array of tests (valued at $500 per subject), including a lipid profile which measures cholesterol levels, C-reactive protein and IL-6 which gauge inflammation, and F2-isoprostanes that indicate levels of oxidative stress.

They will meet on select Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays to submit blood samples, blood pressure measurements and to participate in a 30-minute computerized test to measure mental alertness, cognition, vigilance and executive brain function. Times and dates will be assigned upon entering the study as determined by the participants.

To participate in the study, e-mail asuresearch@appstate.edu and state that you want to join the study. An e-mail will be promptly returned with further information.

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