Effects of quercetin on skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and performance in untrained males

Abstract

We determined the influence of 2‐weeks quercetin supplementation (1000 mg/day) compared to placebo on exercise performance and markers of skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in 26 untrained, physically inactive, young adult males. Utilizing a randomized, crossover design with a 2‐week washout period, subjects provided blood and muscle biopsy samples pre‐ and post‐supplementation periods, and were given 12‐minute time trials on 15% graded treadmills following 60‐min moderate exercise pre‐loads at 60% VO2max. Plasma quercetin levels rose significantly during the two‐week quercetin compared to placebo supplementation period. During the 12‐minute trial (15% treadmill grade, self‐selected speed), the net change in distance achieved was significantly greater with quercetin compared to placebo (29.5±11.5 vs. ‐11.9±16.0 m, respectively, P=0.038). Skeletal muscle mRNA expression tended to increase during supplementation with quercetin compared to placebo for SIRT‐1 (P‐value=0.152), PGC‐1α (P=0.192), cytochrome c oxidase (P=0.081), and citrate synthase (P=0.166). In summary, 1000 mg/d quercetin supplementation for 2 weeks by untrained males was associated with an improvement in 12‐minute treadmill time trial performance and 16% to 25% increases above placebo levels for mRNA expression for four genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis.Supported by a Grant from Quercegen Pharma