Evidence explainerQuercetin

Quercetin and Blood Pressure: A Real but Small Drop of About 2 to 3 mmHg

Quercetin is one of the few flavonoid supplements with a consistent blood-pressure signal across meta-analyses. The size of the effect is the part labels leave out.

By Kymata Health editorial teamPublished October 9, 2026Last reviewed October 9, 2026

Medical review pending. Written by our editorial team from the studies cited below; a credentialed clinician has not reviewed it yet. Educational only, not medical advice.

Key takeaways

  • Across 10 trials (841 participants), quercetin lowered systolic blood pressure by 2.38 mmHg [1].
  • In people with elevated or high blood pressure, diastolic pressure fell by 3.14 mmHg [1].
  • An earlier 7-trial analysis found significant drops only in trials using 500 mg/day or more [2].
  • Across 17 trials, blood lipids and glucose did not change significantly overall [3].
  • There are no adequate safety data for more than 12 weeks at 1,000 mg/day or more [4].

The evidence, graded

Pulled from our monograph evidence tables. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.

  • Grade AWorsenedSystolic and diastolic blood pressureQuercetin · Meta-analysis · n=841 · 2022 · PMID 35948195Quercetin lowered systolic blood pressure by 2.38 mmHg overall and by 1.82 mmHg in people with normal blood pressure, and lowered diastolic pressure by 3.14 mmHg in people with elevated or high blood pressure.
  • No effectNo effectBlood lipids and glucoseQuercetin · Meta-analysis · n=896 · 2020 · PMID 31940027Neither lipid profiles nor glucose changed significantly overall, while blood pressure fell. In parallel-design trials lasting 8 weeks or more, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides changed significantly.

How big is the effect?

A 2022 meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials (841 participants) found quercetin lowered systolic pressure by 2.38 mmHg in the mixed population and by 1.82 mmHg in people with normal blood pressure [1]. Diastolic pressure fell by 3.14 mmHg in people with elevated or high blood pressure [1].

A 2016 meta-analysis of 7 trials (587 patients) found systolic and diastolic reductions of 3.04 and 2.63 mmHg [2].

Dose matters

In the 2016 analysis, trials using 500 mg/day or more lowered systolic pressure by 4.45 mmHg and diastolic by 2.98 mmHg, while trials under 500 mg/day showed no significant systolic effect [2].

Supplements are often sold at up to 1,000 mg a day, more than usual dietary intake [4]. Absorption also differs widely by form; see quercetin forms and absorption.

Cholesterol and blood sugar

A 2020 meta-analysis of 17 trials (896 participants) confirmed lower blood pressure but found no significant overall change in lipids or glucose [3].

Safety

A 2018 safety review found adverse effects were rarely reported in human studies and were mild [4]. It also found short-term studies in which quercetin altered how certain drugs are absorbed [4]. Anyone on blood-pressure or other prescription medicines should check with a pharmacist first.

Quick answers

How much quercetin was used in blood-pressure trials?

The 2016 analysis split trials at 500 mg/day; significant effects appeared at 500 mg/day or more [2].

Does quercetin lower blood pressure in people with normal readings?

Yes, slightly: systolic pressure fell by 1.82 mmHg in the normal-blood-pressure subgroup [1].

Is quercetin with bromelain better for blood pressure?

None of the meta-analyses in our sources tested that combination; they pooled quercetin trials [1][2].

Keep reading

Full monographs

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References

  1. [1]The Effects of Quercetin Supplementation on Blood Pressure - Meta-Analysis. Curr Probl Cardiol, 2022. PMID 35948195
  2. [2]Effects of Quercetin on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Am Heart Assoc, 2016. PMID 27405810
  3. [3]Effect of quercetin supplementation on plasma lipid profiles, blood pressure, and glucose levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev, 2020. PMID 31940027
  4. [4]Safety Aspects of the Use of Quercetin as a Dietary Supplement. Mol Nutr Food Res, 2018. PMID 29127724

Quercetin and other dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your clinician or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines. This page has no product or affiliate links.

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