tuneTypical Dose
Human evidence is too sparse and too product specific to justify a universal dosing recommendation
Flavonoid
Luteolin
Luteolin
Evidence TierDWADA NOT PROHIBITED
watchEffect Window
Not established for standalone luteolin.
check_circleCompliance
WADA NOT PROHIBITED
Overview
Clinical Summary
Luteolin has very limited direct human evidence, so mast-cell, neuroinflammation, and anti-inflammatory claims should be treated as mostly preclinical rather than established clinical uses.
Luteolin is heavily marketed for mast-cell, inflammation, and neuroinflammation-focused protocols, but the direct human evidence is sparse. Most of the enthusiasm comes from mechanistic, cell, and animal research. The small amount of human evidence is either uncontrolled, product specific, or based on combination products where luteolin cannot be isolated as the active driver. That makes luteolin a low-confidence experimental supplement rather than an evidence-backed clinical tool.
Luteolin has plausible anti-inflammatory and mast-cell-related mechanisms in preclinical models, but those mechanisms have not translated into strong standalone human evidence.
Outcomes
What This Is Expected To Influence
Primary Outcomes
- No well-established standalone clinical use supported by strong human evidence
Secondary Outcomes
- Weak human signal only in product-specific or combination protocols
- Most claims remain preclinical
Safety
Contraindications and Interactions
Contraindications
- Substituting luteolin for evidence-based treatment
Side effects
- Mild GI upset
Interactions
No entries provided
Avoid if
- You are expecting proven mast-cell, neuroinflammation, or anti-inflammatory efficacy
- You cannot verify whether a claimed effect comes from luteolin alone or a combination formula
Evidence
Study-level References
lut-SRC-001Case series
Sourceopen_in_newTaliou A, Zintzaras E, Lykouras L, Francis K, Theoharides TC. A case series of a luteolin formulation (NeuroProtek) in children with autism spectrum disorders. Mol Neurobiol. 2013;47(1):422-423. doi:10.1007/s12035-012-8245-0. PMID:22697063.
Population: Children with autism spectrum disorder.
Dose protocol: Proprietary multi-ingredient NeuroProtek formulation
Key findings: Uncontrolled behavioral improvements reported in a case series.
Notes: Human evidence exists, but it is very low quality.
Paper content
This case series is one of the main human citations used to market luteolin, but it is not strong evidence. It was uncontrolled, product specific, and used a multi-ingredient formulation rather than isolated luteolin. It can support only the statement that human evidence exists at a very low level.
lut-SRC-002Randomized controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_newDi Stadio A, D'Ascanio L, Vaira LA, et al. Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and luteolin supplement combined with olfactory training to treat post-COVID-19 olfactory impairment: A multi-center double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022;20(11):2006-2016. doi:10.2174/1570159X20666220420113513. PMID:35450527.
Population: Adults with persistent post-COVID olfactory impairment.
Dose protocol: 770 mg daily ultramicronized PEA-luteolin plus olfactory training
Key findings: Better smell recovery than placebo plus training.
Notes: Combination-product evidence only.
Paper content
This is real randomized human evidence, but it is evidence for a combination product plus olfactory training, not for isolated luteolin. It is useful as proof that luteolin appears in some clinical neuroinflammation-oriented protocols, but it should not be generalized into a standalone luteolin efficacy claim.
lut-SRC-003Randomized controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_newDi Stadio A, Pang K, Vaira LA, et al. Treatment of COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction with olfactory training, palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin, or combined therapy: A blinded controlled multicenter randomized trial. Front Neurol. 2023;14:1200448. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1200448. PMID:37380908.
Population: Adults with post-COVID olfactory dysfunction.
Dose protocol: Once-daily or twice-daily PEA-luteolin protocol with or without olfactory training
Key findings: Combination strategies improved post-COVID olfactory outcomes.
Notes: Again, not attributable to isolated luteolin.
Paper content
This follow-up trial reinforces that a PEA-luteolin combination may be useful in post-COVID olfactory dysfunction. It still does not isolate luteolin's contribution, so it cannot support strong standalone luteolin claims.
lut-SRC-004Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Sourceopen_in_newAssogna M, et al. Phase 2 study of palmitoylethanolamide combined with luteoline in frontotemporal dementia patients. Brain Commun. 2025;7(2):fcaf080. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcaf080. PMID:40046339.
Population: Patients with probable frontotemporal dementia.
Dose protocol: Co-ultramicronized PEA 700 mg plus luteoline 70 mg twice daily for 24 weeks
Key findings: Treatment group showed significantly less cognitive and functional decline in frontotemporal dementia (CDR plus NACC FTLD 0.53 vs 1.39, P=0.005).
Notes: Strongest RCT involving luteoline to date, but still a combination product. Cannot attribute effects to luteoline alone.
Paper content
This Phase 2 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial tested co-ultramicronized PEA plus luteoline in 48 frontotemporal dementia patients over 24 weeks. The treatment group showed significantly less cognitive and functional decline on the primary outcome (CDR plus NACC FTLD, 0.53 vs 1.39, P=0.005). Secondary measures including activities of daily living and language also favored treatment. This is the strongest RCT to date involving luteoline in a neurological population, though it remains a combination-product study and cannot attribute effects to luteoline alone.