Rutin: A Promising Flavonoid in Preventing Blood Clots

Recent research conducted by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School, highlights rutin—a naturally occurring flavonoid in fruits and vegetables—as a potential agent for preventing blood clots.
Studies demonstrated rutin's ability to inhibit protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), a key protein in clot formation, without affecting necessary intracellular functions. The research shows that rutin is both safe (as approved by the FDA) and highly effective in blocking thrombosis when ingested orally.

This compound’s unique action allows it to prevent both types of clots—platelet-rich arterial clots and fibrin-rich venous clots—making it a breakthrough therapy that could help prevent stroke, heart attack, and conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

As existing anti-clotting therapies are limited, rutin’s affordability and safety make it a potential life-saving option for patients at risk of recurrent clots. With its anti-thrombotic properties confirmed in animal models, researchers hope to fast-track clinical trials to explore its full potential in humans.