Immune Support: Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3 (2023)
Doctors and pharmacists have been overwhelmed with questions about the use of
supplements, OTC (Over The Counter) medications, and prescription drugs in the
battle against the virus that causes COVID-19. While the best evidence continues
to support behaviors like maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet, wearing a
mask, and washing hands frequently and thoroughly—some research indicates that
certain supplements and common OTC medications could reduce the risk of
infection or mitigate the seriousness of symptoms.
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) and other healthcare organizations have incorporated a mix of readily available agents into their management protocol for COVID-19.
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Precautions:
“Each 10 ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels was associated with a 45 % and 26 % lower risk of 45-day mortality (HR: 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.40–0.74) and ICU mortality due to COVID-19 (HR: 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.60–0.92), respectively.”
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Safety: Daily intakes of up to 25–100 mcg (1,000 IU–4,000 IU) vitamin D in foods and dietary supplements are safe for
children (depending on their age) and up to 100 mcg (4,000 IU) are
safe for adults. These values, however, do not apply to individuals
receiving vitamin D treatment under the care of a physician. Higher
intakes (usually from supplements) can lead to nausea, vomiting,
muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration,
excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones. In extreme cases,
vitamin D toxicity causes renal failure, calcification of soft
tissues throughout the body (including in coronary vessels and heart
valves), cardiac arrhythmias, and even death.
In this Singapore peer reviewed study, published in the journal Clinical and Translational Medicine (Feb 2022), those who received zinc (80 mg daily) and vitamin C
(500 mg daily) were found to subsequently mount a greater antibody
response.
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In October 2020, the FLCCC Alliance identified, based on a review of the recent
and rapidly emerging clinical trials evidence, that ivermectin, an
anti-parasitic medicine, has highly potent real-world, anti-viral, and
anti-inflammatory properties against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. This conclusion is
based not only from multiple in-vitro and animal models, but from numerous
clinical trials from centers and countries around the world showing repeated,
consistent, large magnitude improvements in clinical outcomes when ivermectin is
used not only as a prophylactic agent but also in mild, moderate, and even
severe disease states. Further, data from large “natural experiments” that
appear to have occurred when various regional health ministries and
governmental authorities within South American countries initiated “ivermectin
distribution” campaigns which then led to temporally associated decreases in
case counts and case fatality rates.
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) and other healthcare organizations have incorporated a mix of readily available agents into their management protocol for COVID-19.
Quercetin and COVID-19
Quercetin was initially found to provide broad-spectrum protection against SARS coronavirus in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic that broke out across 26 countries in 2003. Now, some doctors are advocating its use against SARS-CoV-2, in combination with vitamin C, noting that the two have synergistic effects. It is also a flavonoid and antioxidant that may help to reduce inflammatory cytokines, infections, allergies and anti-blood clot property. Research has found that quercetin may be particularly beneficial for viral respiratory infections.
As of January 2023, there have been 9 published studies of quercetin and
COVID-19 (c19quercetin.com).
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Quercetin is also no. 1 in this prevention studies league table:
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Quercetin as a Zinc Ionophore
Quercetin is a zinc ionophore (J Agric Food Chem. 2014). A 2015 study found that that Quercetin shows inhibitory activity in the early stages of a wide range of influenza viruses, including H1N1 and H5N1 (Viruses 2016). Although influenza is not in the same family of viruses as the coronavirus, it’s plausible that a similar mechanism could apply here. There is actually some evidence that Quercetin has already proven effective at treating Ebola and Zika viruses.
Quercetin is a zinc ionophore (J Agric Food Chem. 2014). A 2015 study found that that Quercetin shows inhibitory activity in the early stages of a wide range of influenza viruses, including H1N1 and H5N1 (Viruses 2016). Although influenza is not in the same family of viruses as the coronavirus, it’s plausible that a similar mechanism could apply here. There is actually some evidence that Quercetin has already proven effective at treating Ebola and Zika viruses.
Quercetin and Vitamin C
Incidentally, vitamin C and quercetin
(originally labeled vitamin P) were both discovered by the same
scientist — Nobel prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi. Quercetin and vitamin C also act as an antiviral drug, effectively
inactivating viruses.
Quercetin works best when taken with vitamin C and Bromelain,
as vitamin C helps activate it and bromelain helps with the absorption. As supplemental quercetin has poor solubility and low oral absorption, lecithin-based and nanoparticle formulations are preferred.
- Quercetin should be used with caution in patients with hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and relevant thyroid hormone levels should be monitored.
- Quercetin and ivermectin interactions? According to Drugs.com: "No interactions were found between ivermectin and Quercetin. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider." Due to a possible interaction between quercetin and ivermectin, these drugs should not be taken simultaneously (i.e., should be staggered at different times of day).
Quercetin and COVID-19
For an updated list of studies, check out c19quercetin.com.
A word about quercetin: Some physicians are recommending this supplement to
reduce viral illnesses because quercetin acts as a zinc ionophore to improve
zinc uptake into cells. It is much less potent than HCQ (hydroxychloroquine)
as a zinc transporter, and it does not reach high concentrations in lung
cells that HCQ does. Quercetin may help reduce risk of viral illness if you
are basically healthy. But it is not potent enough to replace HCQ for
treatment of COVID once you have symptoms, and it does not adequately get
into lung tissue unless you take massive doses (3-5 grams a day), which
cause significant GI (gastrointestinal) side effects such as diarrhea.
Related: Best Quercetin Zinc Supplement
Vitamin D3 - Anti-inflammatory and Anti-coagulant
Based on several publications and studies, vitamin D seems to be the “most promising” natural supplement for COVID-19
protection. Vitamin D, as an immuno-modulator, is a perfect candidate
for countering the immune dysregulation common with COVID-19.
Vitamin D deficiency affects the body’s susceptibility to infection
and has been associated with influenza, hepatitis C, human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viral diseases [Source]. Surveys indicate that most people in the United States
consume less than recommended amounts of vitamin D. Sun exposure,
which increases serum 25(OH)D levels, is one of the reasons serum
25(OH)D levels are usually higher than would be predicted on the basis
of dietary vitamin D intakes alone.
Vitamin D deficiency is also known to enhance a process known as the
“cytokine storm” (Marik 2020).
According to a July 2022 paper:
“Each 10 ng/mL increase in vitamin D levels was associated with a 45 % and 26 % lower risk of 45-day mortality (HR: 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.40–0.74) and ICU mortality due to COVID-19 (HR: 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.60–0.92), respectively.”
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many vitamin D sufficiency studies
have been conducted. Almost all of them show that an adequate vitamin D
level reduces the chance of (a) getting ill, (b) ending up in the
hospital, and (c) dying.
Almost all studies consider a
vitamin D blood serum level of >30 ng/mL ‘adequate/good’. Several
studies have shown that people with a blood serum level of >50 ng/mL
hardly get sick at all. Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis
(Nutrients 2021) suggested that COVID-19 mortality risk correlates inversely with
vitamin D3 status, and a mortality rate close to zero could theoretically be achieved at 50 ng/ml 25(OH)D3.
In a June 2022 review paper titled “The Role of Diet and Supplements in the Prevention and Progression of
COVID-19: Current Knowledge and Open Issues” published in the journal Preventive Nutrition and Food Science,
researchers said:
"The consumption of vitamin C and D supplements, in addition to a
healthy diet, could be promoted as a co-adjuvant therapy for
COVID-19..."
For more evidence, check out the evidence tracker on vitamin D
and COVID-19 from c19vitamind.com (constantly updated), with more than 70 published
treatment studies and more than 120 sufficiency studies by more
than 700 scientists.
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Vitamin D has also been shown to have
an anticoagulant effect. A decrease in
25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration has also been
associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (PubMed).
Vitamin D and Omicron
Will Vitamin D Work Against Omicron BA4 and BA 5? Vitamin D is not
variant specific because it's primary mode of action is to support
the body’s immune system which reacts in a variety of ways against
viral attack, not just in a specific antibody reaction to a specific
spike protein.
Vitamin D, Resveratrol and Cytomegalovirus
Dormant cytomegalovirus (CMV) is carried by 70-90% of the adult population and is reactivated by
inflammation. One third of patients in hospital intensive care units reactivate
CMV which doubles their mortality rate. There is agreement
that Covid-19 co-infection with cytomegalovirus is associated with
higher rates of mortality in older people who have an aged (senescent) immune system.
Cytomegalovirus also dulls the vitamin D receptors thus preventing the active form of vitamin D to enter living
cells.
Resveratrol inhibits replication of cytomegalovirus in infected
lung cells. Resveratrol also binds to and activates the vitamin D
receptors, thus allowing cells in the body to respond to vitamin D.
Related: Best Vitamin D Supplement
Zinc - Anti-viral
Zinc is another powerful immune nutrient known for its benefits for
providing immune health support and inflammation reduction as well as
for improving cold and respiratory symptoms, wound healing, acne
reduction, and lowering the risk of age-related diseases. This trace
element is essential to to cell function and involved in over 100
enzymes. Research on atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus suggests that
zinc deficiency may contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation.
Aging is associated with compromised immunity, that just means that your
immune response to pathogens and infections starts to slow and is less
robust, including a reduced vaccine immune response/efficacy.
Improving zinc intake/zinc status improves/modulates/enhances immune function. The flip side is, while some aspects of immunity slow, others increase. Uncontrolled immune responses drive excess inflammation. Zinc helps to balance all of this.
Improving zinc intake/zinc status improves/modulates/enhances immune function. The flip side is, while some aspects of immunity slow, others increase. Uncontrolled immune responses drive excess inflammation. Zinc helps to balance all of this.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states:
“Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell.”
“Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell.”
Zinc and COVID-19
For more evidence, check out the evidence tracker on zinc and COVID-19
from c19zinc.com (constantly updated).
Foods that are high in zinc include oysters, crab, lobster, mussels, red
meat, and poultry. Cereals are often fortified with zinc. Most
multivitamin and nutritional supplements contain zinc.
Excessive doses may interfere with copper absorption, which could negatively affect your immune system as it can cause copper deficiencies, blood disorders and potentially permanent nerve damage. Zinc can also impair the absorption of antibiotics, and use of zinc nasal gels or swabs has been linked to temporary or permanent loss of smell.
Zinc has been shown in a lab study to inhibit regular coronavirus (not
the current SARS-CoV-2) since 2010, in a 2010 publication.
Safety: Taking zinc long term is typically safe for
healthy adults, as long as the daily dose is under the set upper limit
of 40 mg of elemental zinc (PubMed). Be aware that typical daily doses of zinc provided by zinc lozenges
generally exceed tolerable upper limits for zinc, and for this reason,
they should not be used for longer than about a week.
Excessive doses may interfere with copper absorption, which could negatively affect your immune system as it can cause copper deficiencies, blood disorders and potentially permanent nerve damage. Zinc can also impair the absorption of antibiotics, and use of zinc nasal gels or swabs has been linked to temporary or permanent loss of smell.
Zinc Form and Dosage
There are several types of zinc supplements. Supplements contain several forms of zinc, including zinc gluconate, zinc citrate and zinc picolinate. The percentage of elemental zinc varies by form. To find out the percentage of elemental zinc in each form, check out elemental zinc percentage.
Chelated zinc is a general form of supplementary zinc in which the
zinc is chelated — or bound — to a compound to make it easier for
the body to absorb. Zinc picolinate or zinc gluconate are formed
when zinc is chelated to picolinic acid or gluconic acid, so the
main difference between zinc gluconate and picolinate is what
compound it is bound to.
There are several types of zinc supplements. Supplements contain several forms of zinc, including zinc gluconate, zinc citrate and zinc picolinate. The percentage of elemental zinc varies by form. To find out the percentage of elemental zinc in each form, check out elemental zinc percentage.
To find out which zinc supplement to consider, check out best zinc supplement.
Most people do not lack an intake of zinc, but in disease state,
there might be an increase in demand by the body. The FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol recommends 30 mg a day for prevention and 100 mg a
day for early treatment of COVID-19. This should not be taken long
term without evaluation of your zinc/copper ratios.
The ideal dose for prevention while the COVID-19 risk is high is
40-100 mg/d, a portion of which comes from zinc lozenges to spread
the zinc through the tissues of the nose, mouth and throat. It
should be accompanied by at least 1 mg copper from food and
supplements for every 15 mg zinc.
Do take note that you should keep the dosage back to within 40
mg/d once the exposure risk is back to normal.
Vitamin C - Anti-inflammatory
Vitamin C, which most of us reach for with any cold or flu, was used
in high doses to great effect by COVID-19 early treatment doctors.
Vitamin C may be one of the most well-known immune nutrients
that protect against immune deficiencies and which supports the
prevention and recovery from the common cold and upper-respiratory
issues, and also protects your cardiovascular system, eyes, skin,
and other parts of your body. Research has found that vitamin C may
help to optimize the immune system.
Do take note that the vitamin C dosages given in the hospitals
intravenously are different from those over the counter vitamin C
supplements. Therefore, when you come across studies on vitamin C,
you need to differentiate those that are given intravenously vs oral
vitamin C.
Vitamin C and COVID-19
Check out the evidence tracker on vitamin C and COVID-19
from c19vitaminc.com (constantly updated).
Safety: The U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
for vitamin C is 75 to 120 milligrams per day. Taking large doses
of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on a regular basis lowers your level
of copper, so if you are already deficient in copper and take high
doses of vitamin C, you can compromise your immune system.
While generally considered safe even in high doses, way too much
vitamin C — anything above 2,000 milligrams daily—can cause
headaches, insomnia, diarrhea, heartburn, and other issues.
Temporarily taking megadoses of vitamin C supplements to
combat a case of the cold or flu is likely not going to cause a
problem.
Many vitamin C supplements that are above the US RDA are sold in the
market. It’s important to seek a physician’s advice if you intend to
take high dose vitamin C on a long term basis. To be on the safe
side, you may also request for your kidney functions to be
monitored.
For long-term, daily use, your best bet is to eat a diet that is
full of high quality organic vegetables and fruits that are
minimally processed. Not only will you get vitamin C, but you will
get all the other accessory nutrients and micronutrients that are
needed to optimize it.
Vitamin C, Omicron and Deltacron
Will Vitamin C Work Against Omicron or Deltracron? Vitamin C is
not variant specific because it's primary mode of action is to
support the body’s immune system which reacts in a variety of ways
against viral attack, not just in a specific antibody reaction to
a specific spike protein.
Related: Best Vitamin C Supplement
Vitamin C may be one of the most well-known immune nutrients
that protect against immune deficiencies and which supports the
prevention and recovery from the common cold and upper-respiratory
issues, and also protects your cardiovascular system, eyes, skin,
and other parts of your body. Research has found that vitamin C may
help to optimize the immune system.
Do take note that the vitamin C dosages given in the hospitals
intravenously are different from those over the counter vitamin C
supplements. Therefore, when you come across studies on vitamin C,
you need to differentiate those that are given intravenously vs oral
vitamin C.
Vitamin C and COVID-19
Check out the evidence tracker on vitamin C and COVID-19
from c19vitaminc.com (constantly updated).
Safety: The U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
for vitamin C is 75 to 120 milligrams per day. Taking large doses
of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on a regular basis lowers your level
of copper, so if you are already deficient in copper and take high
doses of vitamin C, you can compromise your immune system.
While generally considered safe even in high doses, way too much
vitamin C — anything above 2,000 milligrams daily—can cause
headaches, insomnia, diarrhea, heartburn, and other issues.
Temporarily taking megadoses of vitamin C supplements to combat a case of the cold or flu is likely not going to cause a problem.
Vitamin C, Omicron and Deltacron
Will Vitamin C Work Against Omicron or Deltracron? Vitamin C is
not variant specific because it's primary mode of action is to
support the body’s immune system which reacts in a variety of ways
against viral attack, not just in a specific antibody reaction to
a specific spike protein.
Related: Best Vitamin C Supplement
Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D3
What are right doses for zinc, quercetin,
vitamin C
and
vitamin D3? The FLCCC I-MASK+ prevention and treatment protocols have the
recommended doses depending on whether you are taking them for prevention
or treatment.
For updated prevention and early outpatient protocol for COVID-19 positive, please check out FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol.
Related: Best Pulse Oximeter
FLCCC Alliance
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance was initially formed
as a working group under “emergency” conditions of the early COVID-19
pandemic in response to multiple early reports of COVID patients with an
inexplicably high need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and an excessive
mortality associated with the prevailing “supportive care only”
recommendations disseminated by the majority of national and international
health care organizations.
As a group of highly published leaders in critical care with expertise in therapies directed at severe infections, in particular “HAT” therapy first developed by Dr. Paul Marik for the treatment of bacterial sepsis, and along with published high patient survival rates from our centers, we were contacted by equally concerned and motivated colleagues from other specialties.
With the increasing publications in addition to our rapidly accumulating personal clinical experiences and investigations into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 patients, we formulated the MATH+ Hospital Treatment Protocol in March 2020. On August 5, 2020, we published our findings in the rationale paper Scientific Review of COVID-19 and MATH+.
As a group of highly published leaders in critical care with expertise in therapies directed at severe infections, in particular “HAT” therapy first developed by Dr. Paul Marik for the treatment of bacterial sepsis, and along with published high patient survival rates from our centers, we were contacted by equally concerned and motivated colleagues from other specialties.
With the increasing publications in addition to our rapidly accumulating personal clinical experiences and investigations into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 patients, we formulated the MATH+ Hospital Treatment Protocol in March 2020. On August 5, 2020, we published our findings in the rationale paper Scientific Review of COVID-19 and MATH+.
Based on these findings, the FLCCC team has developed the I-MASK+ protocol for prophylaxis and at home treatment of early stage disease.
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