A reader forwarded to me a blog post, Could Fisetin Be A New Treatment for ME/CFS and Autism? The name fisetin did not ring any bells for me (so it is not someone’s bright idea being recycled for the nth time); when there is something new showing up I want to do a quick fast analysis. This is below. For full declaration, I have just ordered some for a few people close to me with mast cell and multiple chemical sensitivity issues. The down side risk for the upside potential made it an easy decision.

In my very first post on this site, I reported that I have a remarkable response to high dose biotin.  It reduces my ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) symptoms like severe fatigue and the mental confusion that people with ME/CFS call brain fog.  It also reduces my autistic symptoms, relieving anxiety and irritability while improving my ability to read people.

Could Fisetin Be A New Treatment for ME/CFS and Autism? 2019/07/23

Fisetin is a polyphenol belonging to the flavonoid group. It is not in the data from United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service, nor can I find it on that site. It is mentioned in over 700 studies on PubMed https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Fisetin . A lot of these studies are less than 2 years old.

• Antibiofilm and Antivirulence Efficacies of Flavonoids and Curcumin Against Acinetobacter baumannii. [2019] – effective against bioflims
• Fisetin and telmisartan each alone or in low-dose combination alleviate OVA-induced food allergy in mice. [2019] “attenuated the anaphylactic manifestation, decreased blood eosinophilic count, serum OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 levels, the intestinal total and degranulated mast cells count, and CD4+ immunohistochemical expression.”
• Fisetin is a senotherapeutic that extends health and lifespan.[2018] “Of the 10 flavonoids tested, fisetin was the most potent senolytic… Administration of fisetin to wild-type mice late in life restored tissue homeostasis, reduced age-related pathology, and extended median and maximum lifespan.” 
• Fisetin Lowers Streptococcus suis serotype 2 Pathogenicity in Mice by Inhibiting the Hemolytic Activity of Suilysin. [2018]
• Fisetin Attenuates Metabolic Dysfunction in Mice Challenged with a High-Fructose Diet. [2018]
• 6.
• Antiallergic effect of fisetin on IgE-mediated mast cell activation in vitro and on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). [3027]
• Neuroprotective Effects of Fisetin in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases: From Chemistry to Medicine. [2016] “Fisetin is one of the most common and bioactive flavonoids which possesses potential neuroprotective effects. Fisetin also enhances learning and memory, decreases neuronal cell death, and suppresses oxidative stress.”
• Fisetin regulates obesity by targeting mTORC1 signaling. [2013]
• Flavonols enhanced production of anti-inflammatory substance(s) by Bifidobacterium adolescentis: prebiotic actions of galangin, quercetin, and fisetin. [2013] ”  These findings indicate that flavonols have a prebiotic-like effect on the anti-inflammatory activity of B. adolescentis. “
• Anti-inflammatory activity of fisetin in human mast cells (HMC-1). [2007]
• Flavonoids such as luteolin, fisetin and apigenin are inhibitors of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 production by activated human basophils. [2004]
• The antidepressant-like effect of fisetin involves the serotonergic and noradrenergic system. [2012]
• Flavonoid inhibition of human basophil histamine release stimulated by various agents. [1984]
• Antibacterial effect of fisetin and fisetinidin. [1966]

Bottom Line

There are no direct studies on it’s impact on the microbiome, hence it cannot be added to the microbiome prescription site. In terms of ME/CFS it is well documented to help some key factors (beyond the above blogger’s observations).

• Neuroprotective
• Anti-histamine / reduce mast cell activation
• Antidepressant (which suggests it acts against the bacteria associated with depression)
• Anti-inflammatory

It is a viable supplement to buy one bottle and see what the effects are. Remember to post your experience here.

Lots of Strawberries or supplements?

This is a classic question for most supplements — get it from a natural source or get it as a supplement. The typical supplement is 100 milligrams, 1 gram of strawberries provides 160 μg (micro grams) so to get the same amount means consuming 100,000 grams of strawberries (or 220 lbs of strawberries PER DAY).