Some side effects of fisetin include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and upset stomach, especially at higher doses. Taking fisetin with a meal and room-temperature water, particularly with healthy fats, can help reduce discomfort and improve absorption.
Fisetin may also interact with medications, affecting how they are processed in the liver, potentially increasing or decreasing their effectiveness. Allergic reactions are rare but can include itching, swelling, skin rashes, or gastrointestinal distress.
While fisetin supplements are generally a safe compound when taken in moderation, too much fisetin or taking it in conjunction with other supplements or medications can lead to discomfort.
Fisetin Supplement Side Effects
Gastrointestinal Issues
A common side effect when taking fisetin is gastrointestinal upset (nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach). For some people, the high concentration of fisetin can be particularly challenging for the digestive system.
How to Avoid Stomach Discomfort?
A trick to help you avoid stomach discomfort is to take your fisetin alongside a meal with room-temperature water. Since fisetin is also a fat-soluble flavonol, taking this supplement with a meal, especially one with healthy fats, can help improve absorption and offer some cushioning for your stomach lining.
You should also pay attention to the list of ingredients in your fisetin supplement.
Look for fisetin supplement products with minimal additives, fillers, and preservatives, which can sometimes cause allergic reactions or irritate the stomach lining.
Another way to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort and enhance absorption is to opt for liposomal fisetin supplements. Liposomal technology encapsulates the fisetin in plant-based lipid (fat) molecules, making it easier for your body to absorb and reducing the potential for stomach irritation.
Interaction With Medication
Your liver has enzymes (like CYP3A4) that help break down and process medications and even supplements. Flavonoids, including fisetin, can influence how these enzymes work, either speeding up or slowing down the processing of certain medications [1 ,2].
If fisetin slows down the enzyme that breaks down medication, the medication might stay in your body longer than it should, increasing its effects and possibly leading to side effects. For example, blood thinners like warfarin can become more potent, increasing the risk of bleeding.
On the flip side, if fisetin speeds up the enzyme activity, your medication might be broken down too quickly, reducing its effectiveness. For instance, certain antidepressants might not work as well if processed too rapidly.
If you have concerns about fisetin supplementation and your medication interaction, speaking with your healthcare provider is a good idea. They can provide personalized advice based on your lifestyle and wellness goals, or you can review each of the top rated fisetin products listed on the market to ensure its a quality supplement.
Allergic Reactions
Allergies specific to flavonoids like fisetin are rare. Most people consume fisetin regularly without issues in their diet (with foods like strawberries, persimmons, onions, and cucumbers).
The immune system of individuals with allergies reacts to specific proteins in certain foods, and flavonols typically don't provoke such reactions.
We want to remind you to check the fisetin brand for the complete ingredient list and ensure the company stipulates that its production is made in an allergen-free facility to avoid potential cross-contamination.
Allergic reactions can look like:
- Itching or swelling of the mouth, face, or throat
- Skin reactions such as hives or rashes
- Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- In much rarer and severe cases, anaphylaxis — a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
Can You Get Side Effects from Foods with Fisetin?
It's possible to have allergic reactions to foods with fisetin, but these reactions typically don't stem from fisetin itself.
Instead, it's caused by other components within those foods. For strawberries, the primary allergenic protein is called Fra a1. People allergic to this protein will experience itching, swelling, and hives [3].
Is Fisetin Overall Safe to Take?
Yes, fisetin is generally considered safe when consumed within recommended dosages.
There's no reason to overdo it, either. Taking more fisetin doesn't necessarily mean it will work faster or better toward your health goals, as dietary supplements like fisetin are generally made to support your health and not mitigate or treat any condition.
The recommended serving size for fisetin supplements can range from 10 mg to 1000 mg+, which is a fairly large range, but these varying concentrations accommodate different formulations and wellness goals.
But if you're on medications for blood thinners, you should speak with your healthcare provider for other options to reduce the risk of negative interactions.
Resources:
- Vaja, R., & Rana, M. (2020). Drugs and the liver. Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, 21(10), 517-523.
- Khan, N., Syed, D. N., Ahmad, N., & Mukhtar, H. (2013). Fisetin: a dietary antioxidant for health promotion. Antioxidants & redox signaling, 19(2), 151–162.
- Orozco-Navarrete, B., Kaczmarska, Z., Dupeux, F., Garrido-Arandia, M., Pott, D., Perales, A. D., ... & Merchante, C. (2019). Structural bases for the allergenicity of Fra a 1.02 in strawberry fruits. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 68(39), 10951-10961.
