Capillaries are microscopic blood vessels that allow the oxygen, hormones, nutrients, and antibodies to pass from the body s bloodstream to individual cells. If a capillary s walls are too fragile they will allow blood to drain out of the vessels and into the cells. The result of this is easy bruising, brain and retinal hemorrhages, bleeding gums and other abnormalities. Bioflavonoids also in recent studies have been shown to help the blood clot, this alone can be helpful in treating phlebitis and other clotting disorders. Some bioflavonoids are used as food preservatives to prevent fats from oxidation.
Some reports show bioflavonoids are useful in enhancing the antioxidant action of certain nutrients.
Bioflavonoids and vitamin C are found in many of the same foods and the body metabolizes both of these in the same manner. Researchers have discovered that some of the functions that vitamin C is credited with is actually from the bioflavonoids. Since they work so close together numerous reports have stated that vitamin C and many bioflavonoids need each other to produce the effects that they have on the immune system. All these uses of bioflavonoids are the main reason that they are accredited with the use they have at preventing many heart diseases. Many laboratory studies show how bioflavonoids stop or slow the growth of malignant cells, they also help protect against cancer-causing substances invading the heart and blood cells.