Nutrition Quiz: Quercetin

During TV coverage of the Tour de France, an ad featuring Lance Armstrong touts his favorite performance-enhancing supplement. No, not that. It's the antioxidant quercetin. Take our quiz on all things quercetin.

1. Quercetin is a flavonoid, derived from plant pigment, whose main benefit for humans is what?

a) Blunting the effect and detection of anabolic steroids

b) Neutralizing free radicals said to damage key cell membranes

c) Enhancing the bank accounts of diet supplement manufacturers

2. Armstrong endorses an energy drink containing quercetin that touts its benefits for endurance athletes. What did a 2007 study of Western States 100 mile run athletes who used quercetin reveal?

a) Quercetin had no effect on ratings of perceived exertion during ultramarathon running.

b) Quercetin enabled runners to increase time splits without raising perceived exertion.

c) With or without quercetin, ultrarunners have Type A, obsessive personalities.

3. A 2009 study of 30 recreational cyclists performing maximum-effort exertion half given fluids fortified with quercetin, half with no quercetin came to what conclusion?

a) Quercetin-fueled study participants fantasized that they were Lance Armstrong.

b) The non-quercetin group showed significantly lower wattage in their cycling cadence.

c) There were no metabolic changes, or difference in peak oxygen consumption and strength, in either group.

4. Perceived performance enhancement aside, consuming quercetin can help an athlete in what respect?

a) help reduce inflammation

b) help reduce body weight

c) help reduce the bank account

5. Quercetin prevents immune cells from releasing histamines, chemicals that cause allergic reactions. So researchers believe it might help reduce allergy symptoms. What's the big caveat in the research?

a) Studies had a small sample size.

b) The research was performed in test tubes, not in human subjects.

c) Funding for the research came from Claritin.

6. Which of the following is not a primary dietary source of quercetin?

a) apples

b) onions

c) bananas

ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: a; 3: c; 4: a; 5: b; 6: c

Sources: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise; the University of Maryland Medical Center; Journal of Applied Physiology.