Quercetin intake and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease

Objective: To study the relation between intake of the antioxidant flavonoi d quercetin and subsequent incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVA). Design: A cohort study carried out among 9208 Finnish men and women 15 y or more of age and initially free from cardiovascular disease. During a 28 y follow-up period in 1967-1994, a total of 824 cases with CVA were diagnosed . Methods: Food consumption data were collected using a dietary history inter view method covering the total habitual diet during the previous year. Results: Quercetin intake was not associated with CVA incidence. The relati ve risk of CVA adjusted for age, serum cholesterol, body mass index, smokin g, hypertension, diabetes, geographical area, occupation and intake of beta -carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, fibre, various fatty acids, and energy bet ween the highest and lowest quartiles of quercetin intake was 0.99 (95% con fidence interval (CI) = 0.71-1.38) for men and 0.85 (CI = 0.60-1.21) for wo men. In contrast, apples, the major source of quercetin in the study popula tion, showed a significant inverse association both in men and women, mainl y due to an association with thrombotic or embolic stroke. The relative ris ks of thrombotic stroke after further adjustment for quercetin intake were 0.59 (CI = 0.35-0.99; P = 0.45) and 0.61 (CI = 0.33-1.12: P for trend = 0.0 2) for men and women, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggest that the intake of apples is related to a decreased risk of thrombotic stroke. This association apparently is not due to the presence of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin.