Core target audience: The preferred choice for basic health maintenance
(I) Core Groups Needing Antioxidants
In modern life, our bodies are constantly attacked by free radicals. Air pollution from car exhaust and industrial waste gas, ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, and unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking and staying up late all contribute to the large-scale production of free radicals in the body. These free radicals are like tiny bombs, wreaking havoc within cells, causing cell damage, aging, and various health problems. Dihydroquercetin, a highly active flavonoid compound, possesses powerful antioxidant capabilities, making it a “savior” for these groups. Like a diligent “cleaning guardian,” it effectively removes free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions, while also enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Working from both internal and external perspectives, it significantly reduces oxidative stress damage to cells. For office workers who are chronically exposed to environmental pollution, navigating busy streets daily and inhaling large amounts of harmful gases leads to a sharp increase in the number of free radicals in their bodies. Dihydroquercetin can help eliminate free radicals in the body, reduce the damage of air pollution, slow down the aging process of cells, and keep the body in a youthful state. For example, people who frequently stay up late have disrupted biological clocks, affecting their metabolic functions and leading to a surge in free radical production. Dihydroquercetin can help repair damaged cells, enhance the body’s antioxidant capacity, and reduce the harm caused by staying up late.
(II) Key Groups for Cardiovascular Health Concern
Cardiovascular disease has become the “number one killer” threatening human health, with the incidence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease rising year by year. For people with a family history of cardiovascular disease, genetic factors make them more susceptible to cardiovascular disease than the general population. A long-term high-salt, high-fat diet leads to elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids in the blood, making the blood more viscous and increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. A sedentary lifestyle slows down metabolism, making it easier for fat to accumulate on the blood vessel walls, further increasing the burden on the cardiovascular system. Dihydroquercetin plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health. It acts like a “vascular guardian,” inhibiting platelet aggregation and preventing thrombosis; dilating coronary arteries, increasing myocardial blood supply, and ensuring the heart receives sufficient oxygen and nutrients; improving myocardial blood supply, regulating fatty acid metabolism enzyme activity, optimizing myocardial energy supply, and enabling the heart to work more efficiently. Simultaneously, it inhibits the release of inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α and IL-6), reduces vascular endothelial inflammation, and protects the health of vascular endothelial cells. Studies have shown that long-term use of dihydroquercetin significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
(III) Individuals Requiring Immune Function Regulation
As people age, their bodily functions gradually decline, and their immune systems become more vulnerable to pathogens, leading to frequent colds and illnesses. Post-operative recovery patients are weakened due to surgical trauma, resulting in significantly reduced immunity and requiring time to recover. Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, suffer from suppressed immune systems and low immunity due to the long-term effects of their illnesses. Dihydroquercetin acts like an “immunomodulatory master,” enhancing the phagocytic function of macrophages, making them more effective at engulfing pathogens. It also regulates inflammatory signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-κB, balancing the body’s immune response and maintaining a stable and efficient immune system. The antioxidant properties of dihydroquercetin can indirectly reduce oxidative stress damage to immune cells, helping to enhance the body’s ability to resist pathogens. For people with recurrent infections and fatigue, dihydroquercetin can help boost immunity, reduce the frequency of infections, improve the body’s resistance, and revitalize them. For individuals in the early stages of immune dysregulation, dihydroquercetin can promptly regulate the immune system, preventing further development of immune disorders and the occurrence of related diseases.
Targeted Health Needs: Scientific Basis for Targeted Intervention
Targeted Health Needs: Scientific Basis for Targeted Intervention(I) Suitable Population for Liver Protection and Repair
The liver, as a vital metabolic and detoxification organ, is constantly exposed to various harmful substances. In long-term alcohol consumption, alcohol metabolism in the liver produces harmful substances such as acetaldehyde, which directly damage liver cells, leading to necrosis, inflammation, and ultimately alcoholic liver disease. Patients taking hepatotoxic drugs long-term also experience increased metabolic burden and impaired liver function due to the chemical components of these medications. Fatty liver patients suffer from disordered fat metabolism, resulting in excessive fat accumulation in the liver and impairing its normal function. For these individuals, dihydroquercetin acts as a “guardian” of liver health. Like a diligent “liver cleaner,” it enhances the activity of liver detoxification enzymes, accelerating the metabolism and excretion of harmful substances. Studies have shown that dihydroquercetin can increase the activity of glutathione S-transferase in the liver by [X]%, enhancing the liver’s detoxification capacity. It can also inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells and reduce extracellular matrix deposition, thereby slowing down the process of liver fibrosis and preventing the occurrence of cirrhosis. In a clinical trial on patients with alcoholic liver disease, patients taking dihydroquercetin showed significant improvement in liver fibrosis indicators and a significant increase in liver function. Simultaneously, dihydroquercetin can also scavenge free radicals in the liver, inhibit lipid peroxidation, effectively reduce the content of damage products such as malondialdehyde, protect the mitochondrial function of hepatocytes, and maintain the normal structure and function of hepatocytes.
(II) Neuronal Protection and Cognitive Enhancement
With age, the number of neurons in the brain of the elderly gradually decreases, and the secretion of neurotransmitters also declines, leading to cognitive decline, memory loss, and slowed reaction time. Students, during high-intensity learning, need to maintain high brain activity for extended periods, consuming large amounts of energy and nutrients, which can easily lead to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. People in high-pressure workplaces, experiencing mental stress and anxiety, can also suffer damage to brain nerve cells, affecting cognitive abilities. Dihydroquercetin has excellent performance in protecting neurons and enhancing cognitive abilities. It acts like a “brain nutritionist,” promoting neuronal growth, strengthening synaptic connections, enhancing neurotransmitter sensitivity, and improving learning and memory. Studies have found that dihydroquercetin can promote the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), increasing neuronal survival and growth, and making neural connections in the brain more robust. It can also dilate cerebral blood vessels, increasing blood oxygen supply to the brain and creating a superior living environment for neurons, essentially providing the brain with a continuous supply of “nutrients.” In a study of elderly patients with cognitive decline, those taking dihydroquercetin showed significant improvements in cognitive abilities, with notable enhancements in memory and attention. Simultaneously, dihydroquercetin can also help prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, providing long-term protection for brain health.
(III) Metabolic Syndrome Adjunctive Intervention Population
In modern society, due to changes in lifestyle, the number of overweight, abdominally obese, and insulin-resistant individuals is increasing. These individuals often have irregular eating habits, consuming excessive amounts of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, while their physical activity is severely insufficient, leading to fat accumulation and weight gain. Insulin resistance refers to a decreased sensitivity of the body’s cells to insulin, preventing insulin from effectively regulating blood sugar and leading to metabolic disorders such as elevated blood sugar and dyslipidemia. For patients with metabolic syndrome, dihydroquercetin is a helpful aid to their health. It activates the AMPK signaling pathway, acting like a “metabolic switch” to improve insulin sensitivity and assist in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Clinical studies show that dihydroquercetin can promote β-oxidation of fatty acids in the liver, increasing fat breakdown and consumption, and reducing visceral fat accumulation. In a study of overweight and insulin-resistant individuals, subjects taking dihydroquercetin experienced significant reductions in weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage, and their insulin sensitivity also improved significantly. Dihydroquercetin is also suitable for individuals with prediabetes, hyperuricemia, and other metabolic abnormalities, helping them improve their metabolic status and prevent further disease progression. Of course, patients need to combine dihydroquercetin with dietary control and regular exercise to achieve better results.
Contraindications and Precautions: Essential Guidelines for Safe Use
(I) Identifying Unsuitable Populations
While dihydroquercetin is beneficial for many, it is not suitable for everyone. Infants and young children (under 14 years old) are in a rapid growth and development stage, and their organs and systems are not yet mature, resulting in weaker metabolic and detoxification functions. Due to a lack of sufficient safety data, it is impossible to determine whether dihydroquercetin will have adverse effects on the growth and development of infants and young children; therefore, strict avoidance of intake is necessary. Pregnant and lactating women have special health conditions, and their health is directly related to the health of the fetus or infant. During these two special periods, the intake of any substance requires extra caution. Due to a lack of safety studies on dihydroquercetin supplementation in pregnant and lactating women, it is recommended that these two groups not use dihydroquercetin to avoid potential harm to the fetus or infant. Individuals allergic to flavonoids may experience allergic symptoms such as rashes, itching, gastrointestinal discomfort, and shortness of breath upon exposure to dihydroquercetin, as the immune system may recognize it as a foreign “enemy.” Therefore, individuals in this category need to undergo an allergy test before using dihydroquercetin to determine its suitability. Those with severe hepatic or renal insufficiency have impaired liver and kidney function, hindering the normal metabolism and excretion of the drug. Dihydroquercetin may affect the metabolic activity of the liver’s CYP450 enzyme system, potentially interacting with other medications being taken, leading to reduced efficacy or increased side effects. Therefore, this group requires extreme caution when using dihydroquercetin and must do so under close monitoring and guidance from a physician.
(II) Usage Guidelines and Risk Control
Individualized Dosage: Different individuals have varying needs and tolerance to dihydroquercetin; therefore, the dosage should be adjusted according to individual circumstances. For general health maintenance, a daily intake of 50-100 mg is recommended. This dosage helps maintain the body’s antioxidant balance and prevents free radical damage to cells. For individuals with chronic inflammation or high cardiovascular risk, whose bodies are in a relatively unstable state, higher doses of dihydroquercetin are required to exert its anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective effects. The daily dose can be increased to 200mg. To reduce gastrointestinal irritation, it is best to divide the daily dose into 2-3 doses with meals, as food can reduce the direct irritation of dihydroquercetin to the gastrointestinal mucosa and also help improve its absorption rate. Avoid taking it on an empty stomach to prevent nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and other discomfort.
Product Compliance: When choosing dihydroquercetin products, be sure to choose legitimate products that have passed national new food ingredient registration or cosmetic ingredient registration. These registered products follow strict quality control standards during the production process, ensuring their safety and efficacy. Paying attention to the purity of the product’s ingredients is also very important; the purity should be ≥98%. High-purity products ensure sufficient content of the active ingredients, thereby better exerting their efficacy. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the chiral configuration of the product, such as (2R,3R)-dihydroquercetin. Different chiral configurations may affect the product’s bioactivity and safety. Choosing the correct configuration ensures good bioactivity and safety.
Medical Synergies: In patients taking anticoagulants (such as warfarin), dihydroquercetin may enhance the effect of the anticoagulant, increasing the risk of bleeding. Because dihydroquercetin has a certain inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, its use with anticoagulants may excessively enhance the anticoagulant effect. In patients taking immunosuppressants or chemotherapy drugs, dihydroquercetin may interact with these drugs, affecting their efficacy. Therefore, these patients must undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a doctor before using dihydroquercetin. The doctor will consider the patient’s specific situation, comprehensively weigh the risks of drug interactions, and provide advice on whether and how to use it to avoid affecting treatment efficacy or increasing the likelihood of adverse reactions.
(III) Long-Term Monitoring and Health Management
Long-term use of dihydroquercetin may have some potential effects on the body. Therefore, it is recommended to have liver and kidney function, blood lipids, and blood glucose levels tested after three months of continuous use. These tests allow for timely understanding of the effects of dihydroquercetin on the body and the detection of potential problems. If the test results show abnormalities, the doctor can adjust the usage plan based on the individual’s specific response, such as adjusting the dosage, discontinuing use, or switching to other products. It is important to emphasize that dihydroquercetin is only a functional supplement and cannot replace a balanced diet, regular exercise, and psychological adjustment—all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. It plays only an auxiliary role in maintaining health; only by combining it with a healthy lifestyle to form a comprehensive health management system can it better promote physical health. In terms of diet, it’s essential to ensure adequate intake of various nutrients, eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and reduce the intake of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods. Maintaining moderate exercise is also crucial, such as at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, including brisk walking, running, and swimming. Appropriate strength training is also beneficial. Maintaining a positive mindset and learning to manage stress and emotions is also important; avoid prolonged periods of anxiety, tension, or other negative emotions. Only in this way can the effects of dihydroquercetin be fully realized, providing more comprehensive protection for your health.
