Quercetin supplementation in adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

This project aims to investigate the potential beneficial effect of a natural plant food compound (quercetin), on blood vessel function in adolescents with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH). FH is a common genetic disorder affecting many thousands of children and adolescents throughout Australia, that elevates blood cholesterol from the time of birth, predisposing them to heart disease in early adult life. Untreated, 50% of men and 20% of women will have suffered a fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular event (ie heart attack) by the age of 50. Children with FH have highly compromised blood vessel function. Whilst medications like statins will lower cholesterol levels and can help improve blood vessel function, there is general reluctance among physicians and parents to commence children with FH on statins before the age of 18 years, because of a lack of long-term follow up studies on the use of these medications in younger patients. Thus, a nutrition-based supplement that could improve blood vessel function in children and adolescents with FH prior to them going on long term statin therapy would be of benefit. Using non-invasive ultrasound, we will investigate the effect of consuming a drink containing the natural plant food compound quercetin on how the blood vessel functions in 10 adolescents with FH aged 13-18 years. This will be compared to a placebo drink that contains a harmless sugar compound. We expect that the plant food compound will have a beneficial effect on blood vessel function in this population and lead to a potential new treatment option.