Quercetin as natural preventive against COVID-19

Quercetin is a pigment that belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids.

Flavonoids present in vegetables, fruits, grains, tea, and wine have been linked to several health benefits, including reduced risks of heart disease, cancers, and degenerative brain disorders.

The beneficial effects of flavonoids like Quercetin are due to their ability to function as antioxidants.

Antioxidants are compounds that can bind to and neutralize free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that may cause cellular damage when their levels become high in the body leading to numerous chronic conditions, including cancers, heart disease, and diabetes.

It’s estimated that the average person consumes around 10–100 mg of Quercetin daily through various food sources such as onions, apples, grapes, berries, broccoli, citrus fruits, cherries, tea…

Some people take Quercetin supplements up to 1000mg/day for several reasons such as boosting immunity, fighting inflammation, against allergies, aiding in exercise performance, and maintaining general health.

When it comes to COVID-19, the current interest in Quercetin has nothing to do with its antioxidant activity.

In fact, a study published by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Labs used supercomputers to model which FDA approved compounds or supplements might interfere with the coronavirus binding to cells.

To review, the SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE 2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) receptor to enter cells and start replicating using the cellular mechanism.

So preventing the SARS-CoV-2 from binding to the ACE 2 receptor is crucial in order to avoid the cellular infection and viral replication.

The study displayed various compounds, and Quercetin was in the top 5 molecules that can block the entry of the virus into the cells.

A clinical trial is being organized in order the test the efficiency of Quecetin against COVID-19 in vivo.

At this point, all what I can say is that Quercetin can be useful, since it is a natural product and have long been available as dietary supplement for its antioxidant potential and not linked any concerning adverse reaction.

Please!

As with any supplement, consult your healthcare provider before taking Quercetin, as it can interact with some medications, including antibiotics and blood pressure medications