Is Quercetin Safe During Pregnancy?
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in various plants. It is also used in
dietary supplements claimed to be useful for a variety of different purposes, such as for treating
allergies or
preventing heart disease. A normal dietary intake of quercetin through a healthy and well-balanced diet is considered to be safe for pregnant women. However, it is not known if quercetin supplementation is equally safe.
It should never be assumed that natural products are automatically safe for pregnant women. This is a mistake many pregnant women make. Pregnancy often limits the prescription and non-prescription drugs that are available for a woman to take. As a result, pregnant women often seek safe alternatives, sometimes assuming that dietary supplements are always safe. This is simply not the case. Dietary supplements can be marketed in the United States without any evidence that they are safe (or even effective) for anyone, including pregnant women.
Some dietary supplements (such as many vitamins) have been shown to be safe for pregnant women. Quercetin is not among such supplements. There is not enough information to know if quercetin supplementation is safe for a pregnant woman or her developing child.
If you are pregnant, it is always a good idea to have a discussion with your healthcare provider before taking any medication or supplement, including quercetin.
This is very important, even if you think your healthcare provider will not understand your choice or will discourage the use of alternative medicines.
