The Sourdough School

Baking eating and sharing bread to improve physical and mental health

Using a robust evidence-based baking protocol combining the evidence of thousands of years of baking with modern clinical insights, we offer comprehensive training to bakers and healthcare professionals, providing students with the tools to use baking in everyday practice as a wellness intervention.
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Baking as Lifestyle Medicine for Bakers and Clinicians

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428 - ‘Effects of a quercetin-rich onion skin extract on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and endothelial function in overweight-to-obese patients with (pre-)hypertension: a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled cross-over trial’. The British Journal of Nutrition. 114 (8): 1263-1277

Reference Number: 428

Year: 2015

Authors: Verena Brüll,1 Constanze Burak, Birgit Stoffel-Wagner, Siegfried Wolffram, Georg Nickenig, Cornelius Müller, Peter Langguth, Birgit Alteheld, Rolf Fimmers, Stefanie Naaf, Benno F. Zimmermann, Peter Stehle, and Sarah Egert

Link: Link to original paper

Health: Metabolic syndrome | Weight Management

Nutrition: Anthocyanins | Polyphenols

Inclusions: Onion

Summary

The polyphenol quercetin may prevent CVD due to its antihypertensive and vasorelaxant properties. We investigated the effects of quercetin after regular intake on blood pressure (BP) in overweight-to-obese patients with pre-hypertension and stage I hypertension. In addition, the potential mechanisms responsible for the hypothesised effect of quercetin on BP were explored. Subjects (n 70) were randomised to receive 162 mg/d quercetin from onion skin extract powder or placebo in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over trial with 6-week treatment periods separated by a 6-week washout period. Before and after the intervention, ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and office BP were measured; urine and blood samples were collected; and endothelial function was measured by EndoPAT technology. In the total group, quercetin did not significantly affect 24 h ABP parameters and office BP. In the subgroup of hypertensives, quercetin decreased 24 h systolic BP by ?3·6 mmHg (P=0·022) when compared with placebo (mean treatment difference, ?3·9 mmHg; P=0·049). In addition, quercetin significantly decreased day-time and night-time systolic BP in hypertensives, but without a significant effect in inter-group comparison. In the total group and also in the subgroup of hypertensives, vasoactive biomarkers including endothelin-1, soluble endothelial-derived adhesion molecules, asymmetric dimethylarginine, angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, endothelial function, parameters of oxidation, inflammation, lipid and glucose metabolism were not affected by quercetin. In conclusion, supplementation with 162 mg/d quercetin from onion skin extract lowers ABP in patients with hypertension, suggesting a cardioprotective effect of quercetin. The mechanisms responsible for the BP-lowering effect remain unclear.

Significance of this study to the sourdough baker:

Use of the red onion skins in our diversity blends boost the anthocyanin and quercetin levels. Anthocyanins, are flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are shown to modulate the gut microbiota composition to favour our health, protecting against obesity and in particular, promoting neurological health through the gut-brain axis.

Qualify in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine

All reasonable care is taken when writing about health aspects of bread, but the information it contains is not intended to take the place of treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. You must seek professional advice if you are in any doubt about any medical condition. Any application of the ideas and information contained on this website is at the reader's sole discretion and risk.

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