Luteolin

Also called 3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, luteolol, PEA-LUT (with palmitoylethanolamide).

Best grade B across 7 graded outcomes Other Last checked Oct 21, 2026

The short answer

From 10 sources

Luteolin is a plant flavone. Almost every human trial tested it inside a combination: with mangiferin for sprint performance, with chlorogenic acid for metabolic markers, and with palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-LUT) for smell recovery after COVID-19, where a 2026 meta-analysis of 7 trials found benefit. Tested alone in a small Gulf War illness trial, it did not beat placebo.

Every graded outcome on this page

7 rows · line = participants

Grade BSmell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training vs training alone)Smell recoveryn 525
Grade CSmell identification after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT alone or with training)Smell recoveryn 202
Grade CSmell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training)Smell recoveryn 185
Grade CWeight, HbA1c, lipids and liver markers in metabolic syndrome (with chlorogenic acid)Metabolic healthn 100
Grade DClinically meaningful smell recovery (PEA-LUT plus training vs training alone, 2024)Smell recoveryn 50
Grade DGulf War illness symptom severity (luteolin alone)Inflammationn 21
Grade DSprint performance and muscle oxygen use (with mangiferin)Exercisen 12
4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter

Key facts

What it is: A flavone (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone); one exercise trial used peanut-husk extract with 95% luteolin¹
Tested alone: Only one placebo-controlled trial: no reduction in Gulf War illness symptoms at either dose in 21 veterans⁵
Most-studied combination: Palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin (PEA-LUT) plus smell training after COVID-19: a 2026 meta-analysis of 7 RCTs (525 people) found better smell scores than training alone^9,6,7,8
Exercise dose: 50–100 mg/day of luteolin with mangiferin improved sprint performance in 12 active men¹
Children: An open-label luteolin-quercetin formula in children with autism caused temporary irritability in 27 of 50⁴

What it is

Luteolin is a plant flavone found in many vegetables and herbs, including chamomile, sold alone or in combination products.

How it works

Proposed

Lab studies describe luteolin as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavone that can block mast cells, which is why it is paired with palmitoylethanolamide for nerve inflammation. Trial authors cite these lab findings; they have not been confirmed for luteolin alone in people.^6,4,1

Forms, side by side

3 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.

Luteolin forms compared

3 forms

Luteolin forms compared: 3 forms by 3 attributes. Empty cells are labelled No data yet, or Not graded in the evidence row.
3 forms	Extract (e.g. peanut husk, 95% luteolin)	Palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin (PEA-LUT)	Artichoke extract with chlorogenic acid and luteolin
Absorption in people	No human bioavailability data are cited here.¹	No head-to-head human data.⁶	No head-to-head human data.²
GI tolerance	No adverse effects reported in the exercise trial abstract; the Gulf War trial abstract does not report side effects.^1,5	No adverse events in the 202-person four-arm trial.⁷	Not detailed in the abstract.²
Studied for	Exercise (with mangiferin) and Gulf War illness	Smell loss after COVID-19 (with smell training)	Metabolic syndrome and pre-obesity (6 months)

Luteolin extract (e.g. peanut husk, 95% luteolin)
Absorption in people
No human bioavailability data are cited here.¹
GI tolerance
No adverse effects reported in the exercise trial abstract; the Gulf War trial abstract does not report side effects.^1,5
Studied for
Exercise (with mangiferin) and Gulf War illness
Palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin (PEA-LUT)
Absorption in people
No head-to-head human data.⁶
GI tolerance
No adverse events in the 202-person four-arm trial.⁷
Studied for
Smell loss after COVID-19 (with smell training)
Artichoke extract with chlorogenic acid and luteolin
Absorption in people
No head-to-head human data.²
GI tolerance
Not detailed in the abstract.²
Studied for
Metabolic syndrome and pre-obesity (6 months)

What the human research says

Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.

Trial map

7 graded outcomes, largest study first

7 graded outcomes: 4 improved, 1 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2026 meta-analysis of 525 people on smell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training vs training alone), found an improvement.

By sizeTable

1Smell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training vs training alone)

Improved · Grade B · Meta-analysis, 525 people, 2026

Adults with smell loss after COVID-19 in 7 RCTs published 2021–2024

Dose, result and source

Every graded outcome on this page, largest study first
Outcome	Found	People	Study	Who was studied
Smell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training vs training alone)	Improved	525	Grade B · Meta-analysis, 2026	Adults with smell loss after COVID-19 in 7 RCTs published 2021–2024
Smell identification after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT alone or with training)	Mixed	202	Grade C · RCT, 2023	Adults with smell loss lasting more than 6 months after COVID-19 (multicenter)
Smell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training)	Improved	185	Grade C · RCT, 2022	Adults with smell loss lasting more than 6 months after COVID-19 (multicenter)
Weight, HbA1c, lipids and liver markers in metabolic syndrome (with chlorogenic acid)	Improved	100	Grade C · RCT, 2019	Adults with metabolic syndrome, mean age 63
Clinically meaningful smell recovery (PEA-LUT plus training vs training alone, 2024)	No effect	50	Grade D · RCT, 2024	Adults with post-infectious smell loss, mainly after COVID-19 (outpatient clinic)
Gulf War illness symptom severity (luteolin alone)	No effect	21	Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2021	Male veterans with Gulf War illness (USA)
Sprint performance and muscle oxygen use (with mangiferin)	Improved	12	Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2019	Physically active men

Every graded row

7 rows

Form tested

Showing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.

Grade BSmell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training vs training alone)Smell recoverySMD 0.90 on smell scoresMeta-analysis · 7 studies
n 525 · 2026

Improved Smell test scores were higher with PEA-LUT plus training than training alone (SMD 0.90, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.58), and more people responded (risk difference 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.64).

Design: Meta-analysis, 7 studies, n = 525, 2026
Population: Adults with smell loss after COVID-19 in 7 RCTs published 2021–2024
Form: Palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin (PEA-LUT)
Dose: Varied by trial
Duration: Varied by trial
Source: Reference 9 · PubMed 41559316 (opens PubMed)

Grade CSmell identification after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT alone or with training)Smell recoveryMixedRCT
n 202 · 2023

Mixed With smell training, 89.2% improved by more than 3 points vs 36.8% with training plus placebo; PEA-LUT alone (40–41.6%) was close to placebo for that endpoint. No adverse events.

Design: RCT, n = 202, 2023
Population: Adults with smell loss lasting more than 6 months after COVID-19 (multicenter)
Form: Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin
Dose: Once or twice daily (amount not stated in the abstract)
Duration: 90 days
Source: Reference 7 · PubMed 37380908 (opens PubMed)

Grade CSmell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training)Smell recoveryImprovedRCT
n 185 · 2022

Improved Smell threshold, discrimination and identification improved more than with smell training plus placebo; 92% vs 42% improved.

Design: RCT, n = 185, 2022
Population: Adults with smell loss lasting more than 6 months after COVID-19 (multicenter)
Form: Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin
Dose: 770 mg/day PEA-LUT
Duration: 90 days
Source: Reference 6 · PubMed 35450527 (opens PubMed)

Grade CWeight, HbA1c, lipids and liver markers in metabolic syndrome (with chlorogenic acid)Metabolic healthImprovedRCT
n 100 · 2019

Improved Body weight (−2.4%), waist (−2.8%), HbA1c, plasma lipids, fatty liver index, flow-mediated dilation and carotid intima-media thickness all improved versus placebo.

Design: RCT, n = 100, 2019
Population: Adults with metabolic syndrome, mean age 63
Form: Artichoke-based extract with chlorogenic acid and luteolin derivatives (Altilix)
Dose: 150 mg/day of extract (in the trial report)
Duration: 6 months
Source: Reference 2 · PubMed 31731527 (opens PubMed)

Grade DClinically meaningful smell recovery (PEA-LUT plus training vs training alone, 2024)Smell recoveryNo effectRCT
n 50 · 2024

No effect The PEA-LUT group improved on odor discrimination and total smell score, but clinically meaningful improvement did not differ from smell training alone.

Design: RCT, n = 50, 2024
Population: Adults with post-infectious smell loss, mainly after COVID-19 (outpatient clinic)
Form: Palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin
Dose: Not stated in the abstract
Duration: Not stated in the abstract
Source: Reference 8 · PubMed 38861957 (opens PubMed)

Grade DGulf War illness symptom severity (luteolin alone)InflammationNo effectCrossover RCT
n 21 · 2021

No effect Luteolin did not lower symptom severity more than placebo at the lower (p=0.718) or higher (p=0.492) dose.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 21, 2021
Population: Male veterans with Gulf War illness (USA)
Form: Luteolin
Dose: Lower and higher dose (amounts not stated in the abstract)
Duration: 1 month per dose
Source: Reference 5 · PubMed 33802381 (opens PubMed)

Grade DSprint performance and muscle oxygen use (with mangiferin)ExerciseImprovedCrossover RCT
n 12 · 2019

Improved Sprint performance, muscle oxygen extraction and brain oxygenation during sprints improved versus placebo at both doses, without a higher VO2.

Design: Crossover RCT, n = 12, 2019
Population: Physically active men
Form: Peanut-husk extract (95% luteolin) plus mango-leaf extract (mangiferin)
Dose: 50 or 100 mg/day luteolin with 140 or 420 mg/day mango-leaf extract
Duration: 48 hours and 15 days
Source: Reference 1 · PubMed 30736383 (opens PubMed)

What the numbers add up to

Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.

Alone, it has not worked yet

The only trial of luteolin by itself found no symptom benefit in Gulf War illness at either dose.⁵

Smell training did most of the work

In the four-arm trial, PEA-LUT alone helped about as many people as training plus placebo; the big gain came only when combined with training.⁷

One metabolic trial, reported twice

The 2023 pre-obesity paper is a post-hoc subgroup of the same 100-person 2019 trial, not an independent confirmation.^2,3

Studied doses

Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.

Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.

Doses studied in human trials

Doses studied in human trials ranged from 50–100 mg/day of luteolin with mangiferin for up to 15 days, 770 mg/day of a PEA-LUT combination for 90 days, and 150 mg/day of an artichoke blend for 6 months; amounts in the luteolin-only Gulf War trial are not stated in the abstract.^1,6,3,5

Interactions and safety

Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.

What Luteolin meets

0 cited rows 3 tested together

Medicines 0

No medicine rows in our sources.

Luteolin0 medicines · 1 supplement

Supplements and foods 1

Tested together in a graded trial

Also cited: 3 tested together

PalmitoylethanolamidePalmitoylethanolamide page
- Tested together
  Smell recovery after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT plus smell training). Graded on the Luteolin page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
- Tested together
  Smell identification after COVID-19 (PEA-LUT alone or with training). Graded on the Luteolin page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
- Tested together
  Clinically meaningful smell recovery (PEA-LUT plus training vs training alone, 2024). Graded on the Luteolin page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.

Interactions

0 agents

None found in our sources.

Check with what you take

Kept on this device only

Add what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Luteolin and your picks, and between your picks.

Add a supplement or medicine

Most cited:

Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Luteolin.

Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.

Who should be careful

4 groups

Children: In an open-label study of a luteolin-quercetin formula in children with autism, 27 of 50 had temporary irritability lasting 1–8 weeks.⁴
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The cited trials give no safety data for pregnancy or breastfeeding, and NCCIH notes many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women or nursing mothers.^1,6,10
People expecting a solo-luteolin effect: The only luteolin-alone trial was null; positive results come from combinations whose other ingredients may drive them.^5,1,2
Medicines and surgery: No drug interactions are reported in the luteolin trials cited here, and published interaction data are limited. NCCIH notes supplements may interact with medicines or pose risks before surgery.¹⁰

Reading the label, and the cost per dose

Compare any product you already have by the amount it delivers, not by capsule count or front-of-pack weight.

How to read the label

2 checks

Label dose vs studied dose

The exercise trial used 50–100 mg/day of luteolin; PEA-LUT trials used 770 mg/day of the combination, mostly palmitoylethanolamide.^1,6

Combination products

Results for PEA-LUT, mangiferin blends or artichoke extracts belong to those formulas, not to plain luteolin capsules.^6,1,2

Have the bottle? Photograph its Supplement Facts panel and see each line, luteolin included, beside the doses and forms the trials used in Label X-Ray.

Cost per studied dose, without the sales pitch

Your numbers, no product data

Price paid ($)Servings per containerLuteolin per serving (mg)

Compare against

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.

Common questions

7 answers

Does luteolin work on its own?

The one placebo-controlled trial of luteolin alone, in 21 veterans with Gulf War illness, found no benefit at either dose. Other positive trials used combinations.⁵

Does PEA-LUT help smell loss after COVID-19?

A 2026 meta-analysis of 7 trials (525 people) found better smell scores and more responders when PEA-LUT was added to smell training. A smaller 50-person trial found no difference in clinically meaningful recovery versus training alone.^9,6,7,8

Does luteolin improve exercise performance?

In 12 active men, 50–100 mg/day of luteolin with mangiferin improved sprint performance. Luteolin was not tested alone.¹

Does luteolin help metabolic health?

A 6-month trial of an artichoke extract containing chlorogenic acid and luteolin improved weight, HbA1c and lipids in metabolic syndrome; the blend, not luteolin alone, was tested.^2,3

Does luteolin have side effects?

Adult trial abstracts report few side effects. In an open-label study in children, a luteolin-quercetin formula caused temporary irritability in about half.^7,4

Does luteolin interact with medicines?

The luteolin trials cited here report no drug interactions, and published interaction data are limited. NCCIH notes supplements may interact with medicines or pose risks before surgery.¹⁰

What is luteolin?

A plant flavone found in vegetables and herbs, including chamomile. The exercise trial used a peanut-husk extract with 95% luteolin.^1,4

Sources

10 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.

Sources cited on this page

10 sources

1Enhancement of Exercise Performance by 48 Hours, and 15-Day Supplementation with Mangiferin and Luteolin in Men.Crossover RCT Nutrients, 2019 · PMID 30736383
2Altilix(®) Supplement Containing Chlorogenic Acid and Luteolin Improved Hepatic and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome: A 6 Month Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.RCT Nutrients, 2019 · PMID 31731527
3A Nutraceutical Containing Chlorogenic Acid and Luteolin Improves Cardiometabolic Parameters in Subjects with Pre-Obesity: A 6-Month Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.RCT Nutrients, 2023 · PMID 36678333
4An open-label pilot study of a formulation containing the anti-inflammatory flavonoid luteolin and its effects on behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders.Open-label trial Clin Ther, 2013 · PMID 23688534
5A Placebo-Controlled, Pseudo-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Botanical Agents for Gulf War Illness: Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum), Luteolin, and Fisetin (Rhus succedanea).Crossover RCT Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 · PMID 33802381
6Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide and Luteolin Supplement Combined with Olfactory Training to Treat Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Impairment: A Multi-Center Double-Blinded Randomized Placebo- Controlled Clinical Trial.RCT Curr Neuropharmacol, 2022 · PMID 35450527
7Treatment of COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction with olfactory training, palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin, or combined therapy: a blinded controlled multicenter randomized trial.RCT Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2023 · PMID 37380908
8Palmitoylethanolamide and Luteolin for Postinfectious Olfactory Disorders: How Clinically Meaningful Is Its Effect?RCT ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec, 2024 · PMID 38861957
9Therapeutic effect of anti-neuroinflammatory supplement combined with olfactory training on post-covid olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2026 · PMID 41559316
10Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov

What changed

Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.

Change log

3 entries

Dated changes to this page
Date	Change	Who and why
Oct 21, 2026summary, key facts, evidence, who should avoid, FAQ	Added the 2026 PEA-LUT smell-recovery meta-analysis (PMID 41559316, 7 RCTs, 525 people) as an evidence row; added a medicines-and-surgery note and FAQ saying interaction data are limited, and sourced the pregnancy and breastfeeding note to the NCCIH supplements page. PMID checked with NCBI esummary and its abstract.	Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit
Oct 17, 2026all	First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, journal and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for each cited row.	Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page
Oct 17, 2026all	Adversarial review pass: every number in each evidence row's result, dose, duration, n and population fields was machine-checked against its PubMed abstract, and figures not in an abstract were confirmed in the PMC full text (noted per row). Unverified study-country, funding and mechanism wording was removed or sourced, rows whose sample size could not be confirmed were dropped, and retraction, erratum and expression-of-concern flags were checked on every PMID (two errata, noted on their rows; no retractions). Page set indexable.	Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: review

Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Luteolin

Medicines 0

Supplements and foods 1

PalmitoylethanolamidePalmitoylethanolamide page