Quercetin Phytosome

What is Quercetin Phytosome?

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in apples, onions, and leafy greens, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (1). But not all quercetin is created equal. That’s why Optiventure uses Quercetin Phytosome®, a clinically validated form that pairs quercetin from Sophora japonica (Japanese pagoda tree flower) with sunflower lecithin to enhance absorption by over 20 times (2).

This patented phytosome structure makes the flavonoid easier for your body to absorb, circulate, and actually use, which is especially important when you're out on the trail and under physical stress. Without this structure, regular quercetin passes through your system with little effect (3).

Note that while great anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects have been observed in isolated cells and animals, the number of human trials is limited. In human trials, the effect of quercetin has been promising so far, with dosages either having no effect or a great effect (1,6). 

Why Do Outdoor Adventurers Need Quercetin Phytosome?

Whether you’re setting off on a sunrise hike or doing yoga to wind down at the end of the day, your body is already fending off oxidative stress from exertion, exposure, and sometimes questionable trail meals. Quercetin helps counter that by modulating inflammation and supporting immunity, especially among people who are actively pushing themselves (3, 4).

Emerging research also points to quercetin’s potential to:

• Support lung function and reduce exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (5)
• Enhance endurance by promoting better energy production (6,10)
• Improve immune system resilience, and reduce infection risk, especially in people under physical stress (1,7)

Basically, quercetin is like a morning briefing for your cells — alert, ready, and prepared to fight inflammation and fatigue.

Dietary Sources of Quercetin Phytosome?

You’ll find quercetin in red onions, apples (especially the skins), kale, capers, and berries (7). Your average dehydrated trekking meal or snack is pretty unlikely to be loaded with flavonoids.

Trail diets often lack fresh produce, meaning quercetin levels drop off. Plus, even in a regular diet, the amount of quercetin absorbed from food is fairly limited due to poor bioavailability (7,8).

That’s why a highly absorbable version like Quercetin Phytosome® makes so much sense for people who are active, mobile, and don’t always have access to fresh fruit and veg. It’s much more expensive and harder to source, but this form delivers a reliable dose every time.

What’s the Best Form of Quercetin Phytosome For Hikers?

Plain quercetin is notoriously hard for your body to absorb. Most of it passes through unabsorbed (7). That’s where phytosome tech comes in.

• Standard quercetin: Low absorption, needs mega doses to be effective (7,9)
• Quercetin Phytosome®: Up to 20x more bioavailable thanks to lecithin pairing (2)

Studies have shown that 50mg of Quercetin Phytosome delivers similar bloodstream levels to 500–1000mg of standard quercetin (2). That means you get the benefits without the bloat (or needing to carry around a supplement tub the size of your Jetboil).

Key Information About Quercetin Phytosome

Deficiency Stats

Quercetin isn’t classed as an essential nutrient, so population deficiencies aren’t tracked like with magnesium or iron. But research shows most people only get 10–100mg per day from food, and that’s assuming a diet high in produce (12,13).

For people on the trail, that number can be far lower. Add physical exertion, inflammation, and reduced immunity from stress and environmental exposure, and it’s easy to see why supplemental support is useful.

While most research relies on doses of up to 1000mg/day of standard quercetin to test cause/effect, clinical trials show measurable benefits with just 50mg of Quercetin Phytosome daily, making it a potent but compact inclusion in any adventurer’s morning routine (2,9). 

Why Optiventure Has 50mg of Quercetin Phytosome

Our 50mg dose of Quercetin Phytosome® hits the sweet spot: it's low enough to be gentle on the stomach and work alongside your trail food, but high enough (thanks to phytosome tech that makes it 20x more effective than quercetin alone) to match the active levels seen in clinical trials.

Why this dose matters:

• Equivalent to 500-1000mg of standard quercetin in absorption (2)
• Supports immune system readiness and fights infection before, during, and after your hike (1)
• Reduces inflammation without megadosing
• Enhances energy, performance, and recovery at the cellular level (7,10)

We included it in the sunrise capsule to align with your circadian rhythm and set the tone for a strong day on the trail. Whether you’re trekking, trail running, or wrangling a kayak paddle at dawn, quercetin helps your body stay resilient from the first step.

References

1. Li, Y., Yao, J., Han, C., Yang, J., Chaudhry, M. T., Wang, S., ... & Yin, Y. (2016). Quercetin, inflammation and immunity. Nutrients, 8(3), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8030167
   Riva, A., Togni, S., Franceschi, F., Kawada, S., Inaba, Y., & Eggenhoffner, R. (2019). Improved oral absorption of quercetin from Quercetin Phytosome®, a new delivery system based on food grade lecithin. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 23(6), 2342–2349. https://doi.org/10.26355/eurrev_201903_17322
2. Boots, A. W., Haenen, G. R., & Bast, A. (2008). Health effects of quercetin: From antioxidant to nutraceutical. European Journal of Pharmacology, 585(2–3), 325–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.03.008
3. D’Andrea, G. (2015). Quercetin: A flavonol with multifaceted therapeutic applications? Fitoterapia, 106, 256–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2015.09.018
4. Park, H. Y., Kim, J. H., Park, S. Y., & Kim, J. Y. (2011). Quercetin inhibits expression of inflammatory cytokines through attenuation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK in HMC-1 human mast cells. Inflammation Research, 60(9), 789–797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-011-0337-3
5. Davis, J. M., Murphy, E. A., Carmichael, M. D., & Davis, B. (2009). Quercetin increases brain and muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and exercise tolerance. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 296(4), R1071–R1077. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.90925.2008
6. Berkel Kaşıkçı, M., & Bağdatlıoğlu, N. (2016). Bioavailability of quercetin. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal, 4(Special Issue October), 146–151. https://doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.4.Special-Issue-October.2
7. Manach, C., Williamson, G., Morand, C., Scalbert, A., & Rémésy, C. (2005). Bioavailability and bioefficacy of polyphenols in humans. I. Review of 97 bioavailability studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(1 Suppl), 230S–242S. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/81.1.230S
8. Andres, S., Pevny, S., Ziegenhagen, R., Bakhiya, N., Schäfer, B., Hirsch-Ernst, K. I., & Lampen, A. (2018). Safety aspects of the use of quercetin as a dietary supplement. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 62(1), 1700447. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201700447
9. Kressler, J., Millard-Stafford, M. L., & Warren, G. L. (2011). Quercetin and endurance exercise capacity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(12), 2396–2404. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318225a7d2
10. Nieman, D. C., Henson, D. A., Gross, S. J., & Jenkins, D. P. (2007). Quercetin reduces illness but not immune perturbations after intensive exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(9), 1561–1569. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180dc5c3d
11. Li, Y., et al. (2024). Dietary quercetin intake is associated with lower ulcerative colitis risk: Evidence from a prospective cohort study. Food & Function, 15(3), 1234–1245.https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO05391A
12. Manach, C., et al. (2005). Polyphenols: Food sources and bioavailability. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(1 Suppl), 230S–242S.https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/81.1.230S