Is it safe to take quercetin supplements before and after surgery?

From the Guidelines

It is recommended to hold quercetin supplements at least 2 weeks before surgery due to its potential to increase bleeding risk and interact with perioperative medications. Quercetin has anti-inflammatory effects, but it may also interfere with the normal healing process after surgery 1. The supplement can affect platelet aggregation and may interact with certain medications, such as cyclosporine, pravastatin, and fexofenadine, which can lead to adverse effects 1.

Key Considerations

• Quercetin may increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery due to its blood-thinning properties 1
• The supplement can interact with medications commonly used during the perioperative period, including anesthetics and pain medications 1
• Quercetin may affect how the body processes certain drugs through interactions with liver enzymes 1
• The supplement could potentially interfere with the normal inflammatory and healing processes that are essential after surgery 1

Recommendations for Patients

• Inform your surgeon and anesthesiologist about all supplements you're using during your pre-operative consultation
• Typically, you can resume taking quercetin only after your healthcare provider confirms it's safe to do so, usually when you've adequately healed from surgery and are no longer taking certain post-surgical medications
• Consider alternative supplements or medications that are safer to use during the perioperative period, as recommended by your healthcare provider 1

From the Research

Quercetin and Surgery

• The safety of taking quercetin supplements before and after surgery has been explored in several studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
• A randomized placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and senolytic effects of quercetin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, with patients receiving quercetin supplementation starting 2 days before surgery and until the seventh postoperative day 2.
• Quercetin has been found to possess a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may be beneficial in reducing inflammation and improving outcomes after surgery 3, 4.
• A systematic review highlighted the benefits of quercetin for dentistry and maxillofacial surgery, including its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties 4.
• An experimental study investigated the effects of quercetin and Surgicel for preventing adhesions after gynecological surgery, finding that quercetin treatment may be useful for preventing pelvic adhesions 5.
• A review of safety aspects of the use of quercetin as a dietary supplement found that adverse effects following supplemental quercetin intake have been rarely reported and any such effects were mild in nature, but highlighted the need for further research on long-term use and potential interactions with certain drugs 6.

Key Findings

• Quercetin supplementation may help limit the vigorous inflammatory response triggered by surgery and subsequent postoperative complications 2.
• Quercetin has been found to be safe for human application, with no classified carcinogenic risk to humans 3.
• Quercetin may be useful for preventing pelvic adhesions after gynecological surgery 5.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy of quercetin supplementation before and after surgery 2, 6.