Vastly Improved Luteolin Bioavailability

Luteolin is a component of healthy plant foods.

In preclinical studies it demonstrated anti-cancer action, cardiovascular support, neuroprotective activity, and more.¹

Until recently, these benefits could not be easily studied in human trials because luteolin suffers from poor bioavailability.¹

That’s all about to change.

Scientists have found a way to significantly enhance the bioavailability of luteolin.

By combining luteolin with a plant-derived fiber, this formulation has been clinically shown to boost the amount of luteolin that circulates in the body by up to 14 times.²

This improved luteolin delivery may lead to high-quality human studies to study luteolin’s effects in promoting healthy aging and reducing chronic disease risk.

What Is Luteolin?

Luteolin is a flavonoid found in small amounts in onions, cabbage, carrots, apples, parsley, peppers, broccoli, and other plants.³

Flavonoids are health-promoting compounds found in many plants. Diets high in flavonoids are associated with reduced risk for some chronic diseases.⁴

In the plant kingdom, luteolin protects against cellular damage by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.^5,6

Luteolin can also protect against UV damage in animal and cell models.⁷ As a potent antioxidant, it shields against oxidative stress, making it critical to cellular health.⁸

Luteolin is also able to modulate cellular pathways and drive gene expression in ways that improve cellular function and defend against chronic inflammation and other threats.^8-10

An Improved Luteolin

Only a small fraction of ingested luteolin is absorbed and reaches systemic circulation in its unmodified form. Although scientists have done extensive cell and animal studies, this poor bioavailability has made human studies difficult.

By combining luteolin with galactomannans, an indigestible fiber found in fenugreek seeds, it is more stabilized in the gut and readily absorbed into the bloodstream.

In a clinical study, healthy subjects took a single dose of standard luteolin or the new bioavailability-enhancing formulation. The difference was astonishing:

The amount of luteolin in the blood after taking the new formula was up to 14 times more than the standard luteolin.²

Luteolin’s Mechanisms

Over time, cellular structures become damaged and dysfunctional, contributing to aging and risk for disease.

Luteolin has demonstrated protective effects, and a new bioavailable formula may allow greater benefits to be applied to humans by:

• Supporting cellular housekeeping: Autophagy is a process of cellular housekeeping that eliminates corroded cellular parts, rejuvenating the cell. With age, this process is diminished,¹¹ but in cell and animal studies, luteolin boosts autophagy significantly.^12-14
• Improving cellular signaling and gene expression: Luteolin "switches on" Nrf-2, a cellular defense mechanism that promotes antioxidant defenses, detoxification, and more.^15,16
• Enhancing metabolic health by promoting activity of the enzyme AMPK that inhibits a critical regulatory protein called mTOR.^17,18 When mTOR is high and AMPK low, metabolism is dysfunctional, contributing to obesity, metabolic disease like diabetes, and risk for cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorder.¹⁹ Luteolin may help throw that metabolic switch back into the correct (more youthful) direction.
• Reducing inflammation: Chronic inflammation drives practically every age-related disease. Luteolin reduces the activity of NF-kB (nuclear factor-kappa B),^9,18 a promoter of chronic inflammation throughout the body.²⁰ It also lowers levels of several pro-inflammatory compounds and increases production of an anti-inflammatory signaling compound.^9,18,21

Disease-Fighting Capabilities

Through these actions, luteolin has the potential to improve overall health. Preclinical models show luteolin to be beneficial in combating specific disorders, including:

• Cardiovascular. In animal models, luteolin has demonstrated cardioprotective effects,^22-24 helping shield heart tissue against damage and supporting healthy cardiac function.²⁴ Research suggests that luteolin may help reduce the development of atherosclerotic plaque,²⁵ which is one of the major contributors to cardiovascular disease.
• Gastrointestinal disorders. Luteolin has also been shown to encourage the growth of a healthy mix of microorganisms in the intestines²⁶ and to support intestinal barrier function, which helps prevent the spread of toxins and inflammation body-wide.^26,27 In a mouse model of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, luteolin reduced inflammation and colonic injury.²⁶
• Cancer. By inhibiting several processes involved in cancer progression and spread, luteolin may reduce risk for many cancers,^10,13,18,28 including colon, prostate, lung, melanoma, breast, oral, and brain cancer.
• Neurodegenerative disease. Luteolin has shown to be neuroprotective, shielding brain cells from inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic derangements.^29-33 In animal models of Alzheimer’s, luteolin alleviates cognitive impairment^29,31-33 and improves learning and memory.

Additional preclinical evidence shows that luteolin may help protect against autoimmune conditions, arthritis, liver disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and lung disease.¹⁸

Based on the wealth of preclinical data, this high bioavailability luteolin has the potential to promote better health in humans.

Future clinical trials could demonstrate the potential health benefits of luteolin.

Summary

Luteolin is a flavonoid that defends cellular health, supports healthy aging, and reduces risk of cardiovascular, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases in preclinical studies.

Luteolin has traditionally suffered from poor bioavailability, but scientists have created a formulation that boosts bioavailability in humans up to 14 times.

This bioavailable luteolin may finally allow its true potential to be realized.

What You Need To Know

A Better Luteolin

• In cell and animal models, the plant flavonoid luteolin defends against common diseases of aging, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer.
• Human trials of luteolin have been limited due to its poor bioavailability. A new formulation boosts its bioavailability in humans by 14 times compared to standard formulations.
• Clinical trials of this new bioavailable luteolin may demonstrate its potential benefits for reducing disease risk and supporting healthy aging.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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