What Is Rutin?

Rutin is also known as rutoside, quercetin-3-rutinoside and sophorin. It is a compound that is naturally produced in certain plants and which offers several different health benefits to human beings. Fortunately there are several different ways of ensuring that you get enough rutin in your everyday diet.

Identification

• Rutin is a water-soluble bioflavonoid that is found in high concentrations in several different plant species. Its name comes from the plant Ruta glaveolens, which contains high levels of naturally occurring rutin. It is found in particularly high concentration in buckwheat, Rheum plants and the fruit of the Fava D'Anta tree.

Function

• One of the functions of rutin within the human body is acting as a powerful antioxidant. It also helps certain vitamins to perform their own jobs more easily, especially in the case of vitamin C. Another of rutin's major roles is its ability to help regulate the flow of minerals and liquids through blood vessels. This latter function is extremely helpful in the treatment of certain ailments.

Types

• There are two major forms of rutin that are relevant from a dietary standpoint: dietary rutin and supplementary rutin. Dietary rutin is consumed by a person through the intake of food. Supplementary rutin, on the other hand, is consumed via a supplement that generally takes the form of a pill. Supplementary rutin can be found in some daily multivitamins and is also sold by itself. The best readily available sources of dietary rutin are buckwheat, citrus fruits, red wine, green tea, onions, grapefruit, apples and ginkgo biloba.

Benefits

• The benefits of getting enough rutin in your diet are numerous. Rutin is helpful in treating glaucoma, high blood pressure, heart disease and allergies. Its ability to help regulate the permeability of blood vessels is the key to its helpfulness in each of those applications. Its antioxidant properties make it a good weapon in the fight against cancer and it also helps eye health in several different ways (primarily by promoting proper blood circulation). Likewise, rutin helps to ward off the effects of hemophilia and helps other vitamins and minerals to function at peak efficiency.

Considerations

• Though most bioflavonoids are relatively safe in moderate doses, a reasonable supplementary dose of rutin would be roughly 500mg per day. Those who already consume a lot of dietary rutin, however, may not need supplementation or may wish to take a lower dosage. Despite rutin being toxic only in extremely high doses, large doses can cause indigestion and diarrhea in those who are particularly sensitive. As always, it's best to consult your physician before undergoing any new supplementary regimen.