Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid found in many fruits, vegetables, and grains. As a polyphenolic compound, quercetin has gained significant attention in longevity research for its potential senolytic properties, particularly when combined with dasatinib. While primarily known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, quercetin's ability to selectively eliminate senescent cells makes it a promising intervention for age-related health conditions.
Quercetin belongs to the flavonol subclass of flavonoids and is one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids. Its potential as a longevity intervention stems from multiple mechanisms of action, including antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and crucially, its senolytic properties that may help clear senescent cells accumulating with age.
- Blood pressure (hypertensive) — ↓ small (−3–7 mmHg) — B.[27][28]
- Inflammation/oxidative stress markers — ↓ small — C.[^405]
- Senescent cell burden (with dasatinib) — ↓ in tissues (pilot trials) — C.[391][424]
- Cognition/mobility in at-risk older adults (D+Q) — ↑ feasibility; small signals — C.[389][423]
- Longevity in humans — Insufficient — F.
High Quercetin Foods:
- Red onions (highest concentration)
- Apples (especially the skin)
- Berries (cranberries, blueberries)
- Grapes and red wine
- Green tea and black tea¹
Moderate Sources:
- Broccoli and leafy greens
- Tomatoes
- Citrus fruits
- Nuts and seeds²
Typical Daily Intake:
- Average dietary intake: 10-100 mg daily
- Bioavailability from food: 2-20%
- Supplemental forms have higher bioavailability³
Anti-apoptotic Pathway Inhibition:
- Binds directly to BCL-2 and BCL-xL proteins
- Disrupts the BH3 domain of these survival proteins
- Promotes apoptosis in senescent cells selectively⁴
Synergy with Dasatinib:
- Quercetin inhibits anti-apoptotic pathways
- Dasatinib inhibits pro-survival kinase signaling
- Combined effect creates selective toxicity for senescent cells⁵
Cellular Selectivity:
- Senescent cells are more dependent on survival pathways
- Normal cells have redundant survival mechanisms
- Creates therapeutic window for selective elimination⁶
Direct Radical Scavenging:
- Neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Scavenges reactive nitrogen species
- Chelates transition metal ions (Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺)⁷
Antioxidant Enzyme Modulation:
- Enhances catalase activity
- Increases glutathione peroxidase
- Supports superoxide dismutase function⁸
Pathway Inhibition:
- Suppresses NF-κB signaling
- Inhibits COX-2 enzyme activity
- Reduces inflammatory cytokine production⁹
Immune System Modulation:
- Modulates T-cell responses
- Reduces mast cell degranulation
- Supports immune system balance¹⁰
Longevity Pathway Enhancement:
- Activates SIRT1 (silent information regulator 1)
- Promotes cellular stress resistance
- Enhances metabolic efficiency¹¹
STAMINA Study (2025):
- 12 participants aged ≥65 at risk for Alzheimer's disease
- Protocol: 100 mg dasatinib + 1250 mg quercetin for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks for 12 weeks
- Results: Feasible and safe; potential cognitive improvements¹²
SToMP-AD Trial:
- 5 participants with early-stage Alzheimer's disease
- 12-week treatment with dasatinib + quercetin
- Demonstrated safety and tolerability in dementia patients¹³
Diabetic Kidney Disease Study:
- Open-label Phase 1 pilot study
- 3-day course of dasatinib + quercetin
- Reduced senescent cell burden and improved markers¹⁴
Animal Studies:
- Extended lifespan in multiple animal models
- Improved cardiovascular function
- Enhanced physical performance and mobility
- Reduced tissue inflammation and fibrosis¹⁵
Cell Culture Studies:
- Selective elimination of senescent cells
- Improved tissue regeneration capacity
- Reduced senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)¹⁶
¶ Limitations as Standalone Senolytic
Efficacy Concerns:
- Limited effectiveness as monotherapy
- Variable results in different cell types
- Questions about optimal dosing for senolytic effects¹⁷
| Use case |
Typical dose |
Timing |
Notes |
| Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory |
200–500 mg/day |
With meals |
GRAS in foods; supplement safety fair[^400] |
| Senolytic (with dasatinib) |
1000–1250 mg |
2 days every 2 weeks |
Clinical supervision; monitor labs[^424] |
Combination Benefits:
- Most effective when combined with dasatinib
- Synergistic mechanisms enhance overall efficacy
- Broader spectrum of senescent cell targeting¹⁸
Studies have documented improvements in aging-related biomarkers:
- Inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6)¹⁹
- Oxidative stress indicators²⁰
- Cardiovascular risk factors²¹
- Metabolic parameters²²
Quercetin is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when consumed as food. Among numerous published human intervention studies, adverse effects following supplemental quercetin intake have been rarely reported and any such effects were mild in nature²³.
Mild Adverse Effects:
- Headaches²⁴
- Stomach upset or nausea²⁵
- Tingling sensations (paresthesia) in arms and legs²⁶
- Generally occur with doses ≥1000 mg daily²⁷
Gastrointestinal Effects:
- Mild nausea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea (rare)²⁸
Nephrotoxicity:
- Kidney damage with very high doses
- Primarily reported with intravenous administration
- Risk increased in those with pre-existing kidney damage²⁹
Respiratory Effects:
- Shortness of breath (rare)
- Usually associated with high-dose supplementation³⁰
Established Safe Doses:
- Up to 1000 mg daily for 12 weeks (established safety)
- Long-term safety data (>12 weeks) limited for high doses
- Food sources considered safe without limits³¹
Recommended Dosing:
- Antioxidant effects: 200-500 mg daily
- Senolytic protocols: 1000-1250 mg for 2-3 days intermittently
- Always under medical supervision for senolytic use³²
- Known hypersensitivity to quercetin or flavonoids³³
- Severe kidney disease or acute kidney injury³⁴
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:
- Safe in food amounts
- Supplemental forms not recommended
- Limited safety data for pregnant/nursing women³⁵
Children:
- Not recommended for pediatric use as supplement
- Food sources are safe
- Lack of safety data in children³⁶
Kidney Disease:
- Use with caution in mild-moderate kidney disease
- Contraindicated in severe kidney disease
- Monitor kidney function if using supplementally³⁷
Iron Deficiency:
- May bind non-heme iron and reduce absorption
- Take separately from iron supplements
- Consider iron status monitoring³⁸
Anticoagulants:
- May enhance effects of warfarin
- Increased bleeding risk
- Monitor INR closely if combined³⁹
Cardiac Glycosides:
- Avoid combination with digoxin
- May alter cardiac medication effects
- Consult cardiologist before use⁴⁰
Antibiotics:
- May affect absorption and efficacy
- Particularly fluoroquinolones
- Space dosing appropriately⁴¹
Blood Pressure Medications:
- May enhance hypotensive effects
- Monitor blood pressure closely
- Dose adjustments may be needed⁴²
Cyclosporine:
- May affect immunosuppressant levels
- Requires close monitoring
- Consult physician before use⁴³
CYP450 Interactions:
- Quercetin can inhibit certain liver enzymes
- May affect metabolism of other drugs
- Over 60 documented drug interactions⁴⁴
Standard Supplementation:
- Dose: 200-500 mg daily
- Timing: With meals to improve absorption
- Duration: Can be used long-term
- Form: Quercetin dihydrate or phytosome⁴⁵
Combination Therapy:
- Quercetin: 1000-1250 mg
- Dasatinib: 100 mg
- Schedule: 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks
- Duration: 12-24 weeks initially⁴⁶
Monitoring Requirements:
- Baseline kidney and liver function
- Complete blood count
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Symptom assessment⁴⁷
Bioavailability Enhancement:
- Take with fat-containing meal
- Consider quercetin phytosome formulations
- Vitamin C may enhance absorption
- Avoid taking with iron supplements⁴⁸
Standard Quercetin:
- Quercetin dihydrate (most common)
- Bioavailability: 2-20%
- Requires higher doses⁴⁹
Enhanced Absorption Forms:
- Quercetin phytosome (lipid-bound)
- Bioavailability: 20-40%
- Lower doses needed⁵⁰
Combination Products:
- Quercetin + bromelain
- Quercetin + vitamin C
- May enhance absorption and effects⁵¹
Enhancing Factors:
- Fat-containing meals
- Vitamin C co-administration
- Piperine (black pepper extract)⁵²
Reducing Factors:
- High-fiber meals
- Calcium and iron supplements
- Coffee and tea (tannins)⁵³
¶ Cost and Accessibility
- Standard quercetin: $15-40 per month
- Enhanced absorption forms: $25-60 per month
- Combination products: $20-50 per month
- Widely available without prescription⁵⁴
- Red onions: $2-5 per pound
- Apples: $2-4 per pound
- Berries: $3-8 per pound
- Generally affordable and accessible⁵⁵
- Limited long-term safety data for high-dose supplementation
- Optimal dosing protocols not fully established
- Individual variation in response not well characterized
- Need for larger clinical trials⁵⁶
- Low absorption from standard forms
- High inter-individual variability
- First-pass metabolism reduces effectiveness
- Need for improved formulations⁵⁷
- Questionable effectiveness as standalone senolytic
- Variable results across different tissues
- May require combination with other agents
- Optimal protocols still being developed⁵⁸
- Novel delivery systems and formulations
- Personalized dosing based on genetics
- Combination with other longevity interventions
- Tissue-specific targeting approaches⁵⁹
- Larger randomized controlled trials
- Long-term safety studies
- Biomarker-guided therapy protocols
- Age-specific dosing recommendations⁶⁰
Quercetin represents a promising but complex longevity intervention. While its safety profile as a food component is excellent, its effectiveness as a standalone senolytic remains questionable. The most compelling evidence exists for quercetin in combination with dasatinib for senolytic therapy. As a general antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supplement, quercetin offers modest benefits with good safety. Future research will likely focus on optimizing formulations, dosing protocols, and identifying the populations most likely to benefit.
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- Kirkland JL, Tchkonia T. Senolytic drugs: from discovery to translation. J Intern Med. 2020;288(5):518-536.
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- Howitz KT, Bitterman KJ, Cohen HY, et al. Small molecule activators of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan. Nature. 2003;425(6954):191-196.
- Justice JN, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD, et al. A pilot study of senolytics to improve cognition and mobility in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. eBioMedicine. 2025;101:105056.
- Gonzales MM, Garbarino VR, Marques Zilli E, et al. Senolytic therapy to modulate the progression of Alzheimer's disease (SToMP-AD): a pilot clinical trial. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2022;9(1):22-29.
- Hickson LJ, Langhi Prata LGP, Bobart SA, et al. Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: preliminary report from a clinical trial of dasatinib plus quercetin in individuals with diabetic kidney disease. EBioMedicine. 2019;47:446-456.
- Xu M, Pirtskhalava T, Farr JN, et al. Senolytics improve physical function and increase lifespan in old age. Nat Med. 2018;24(8):1246-1256.
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- Kirkland JL, Tchkonia T. Cellular senescence: a translational perspective. EBioMedicine. 2017;21:21-28.
- Zhu Y, Tchkonia T, Pirtskhalava T, et al. The Achilles' heel of senescent cells: from transcriptome to senolytic drugs. Aging Cell. 2015;14(4):644-658.
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- Harwood M, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Borzelleca JF, et al. A critical review of the data related to the safety of quercetin and lack of evidence of in vivo toxicity, including lack of genotoxic/carcinogenic properties. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(11):2179-2205.
- Ferry DR, Smith A, Malkhandi J, et al. Phase I clinical trial of the flavonoid quercetin: pharmacokinetics and evidence for in vivo tyrosine kinase inhibition. Clin Cancer Res. 1996;2(4):659-668.
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- Edwards RL, Lyon T, Litwin SE, et al. Quercetin reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. J Nutr. 2007;137(11):2405-2411.
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- Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54(6):960-963.
- Ferry DR, Smith A, Malkhandi J, et al. Phase I clinical trial of the flavonoid quercetin: pharmacokinetics and evidence for in vivo tyrosine kinase inhibition. Clin Cancer Res. 1996;2(4):659-668.
- Harwood M, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Borzelleca JF, et al. A critical review of the data related to the safety of quercetin and lack of evidence of in vivo toxicity, including lack of genotoxic/carcinogenic properties. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(11):2179-2205.
- Justice JN, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD, et al. A pilot study of senolytics to improve cognition and mobility in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. eBioMedicine. 2025;101:105056.
- Harwood M, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Borzelleca JF, et al. A critical review of the data related to the safety of quercetin and lack of evidence of in vivo toxicity, including lack of genotoxic/carcinogenic properties. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(11):2179-2205.
- Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54(6):960-963.
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Quercetin monograph. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2021.
- Ibid.
- Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54(6):960-963.
- Samman S, Sandström B, Toft MB, et al. Green tea or rosemary extract added to foods reduces nonheme-iron absorption. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73(3):607-612.
- Hubbard GP, Wolffram S, de Vos R, et al. Ingestion of onion soup high in quercetin inhibits platelet aggregation and essential fatty acid synthesis in man. J Nutr. 2006;136(10):2588-2593.
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Quercetin monograph. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2021.
- Ibid.
- Edwards RL, Lyon T, Litwin SE, et al. Quercetin reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. J Nutr. 2007;137(11):2405-2411.
- Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Quercetin monograph. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2021.
- Ibid.
- D'Andrea G. Quercetin: A flavonol with multifaceted therapeutic applications? Fitoterapia. 2015;106:256-271.
- Justice JN, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD, et al. A pilot study of senolytics to improve cognition and mobility in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. eBioMedicine. 2025;101:105056.
- Hickson LJ, Langhi Prata LGP, Bobart SA, et al. Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: preliminary report from a clinical trial of dasatinib plus quercetin in individuals with diabetic kidney disease. EBioMedicine. 2019;47:446-456.
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- Hollman PC, van Trijp JM, Buysman MN, et al. Relative bioavailability of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin from various foods in man. FEBS Lett. 1997;418(1-2):152-156.
- Ibid.
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- Kirkland JL, Tchkonia T. Senolytic drugs: from discovery to translation. J Intern Med. 2020;288(5):518-536.
- D'Andrea G. Quercetin: A flavonol with multifaceted therapeutic applications? Fitoterapia. 2015;106:256-271.
- Kirkland JL, Tchkonia T. Cellular senescence: a translational perspective. EBioMedicine. 2017;21:21-28.
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