Vitamin C with quercetin benefits for inflammation, COVID, heart disease, type 2 diabetes

Patients at higher risk of contracting and developing a viral infection can find vitamin C with quercetin benefits as well

Quercetin is a plant flavonol found in a variety of foods and drinks ranging from apples, grapes, and citrus fruit to onions, tea, and even red wine. This naturally occurring polyphenol helps give these items their scent and color. While many flavonoids have traditionally been sought out for their numerous health impacts, vitamin C with quercetin benefits a number of inflammation-based maladies.

Quercetin and COVID

Dietary supplement use, in general, has been on the rise in recent years but manufacturers have seen “dynamical increased” sales as the pandemic has progressed according to data provided by a 2021 study in the journal Nutrients. This has prompted researchers to study the effects of different supplements and substances on the COVID-19 virus, and quercetin is showing promising results.

In one randomized, controlled study, 152 people in the early stages of coronavirus infection were divided into two groups. One group received standard care and the other received standard care plus 1,000 mg of quercetin daily.

After 30 days, 22 patients in the standard care group needed hospitalization compared to seven patients in the quercetin group. The standard care group also tended to stay in the hospital much longer, with the average length of stay being 6.77 days versus 1.57 days for the group taking quercetin.

Additionally, eight of the standard care patients were admitted into the intensive care unit and three died. No patients taking quercetin required ICU care or progressed to the point of death in this study. Results were published in the International Journal of General Medicine.

Another 2021 study, this one in the Turkish Journal of Biology, involved 429 patients, each of whom had moderate-to-severe respiratory symptoms due to COVID-19 and at least one chronic disease. The patients receiving a supplement containing quercetin, vitamin C, and bromelain had greater reductions in C-reactive protein and ferritin levels, and more positive laboratory recovery and results.

Additional quercetin benefits

Research on quercetin indicates that this flavonoid has many positive impacts on health due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-carcinogenic, and psychostimulant properties. It works through a number of methods, such as by inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1α while downregulating interleukin 4.

An article published in ACS Omega in May 2020, took an in-depth look at quercetin and indicates that it has shown promising effects for preventing and/or treating various cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and microbial infections. Quercetin’s anti-inflammatory effects may also reduce the risk of obesity-related metabolic diseases and assist with healthy aging.

Vitamin C with quercetin benefits

Some nutrients are better when combined, such as how the body needs vitamin D to help it better absorb calcium. Quercetin and vitamin C is another combination that provides beneficial effects.

In a 2020 review published in Frontiers in Immunology, health care researchers from various parts of the world shared that vitamin C with quercetin benefits “exert a synergistic antiviral action.” This is partly due to having overlapping properties but also because ascorbate recycles quercetin, improving its efficacy.

Other studies suggest that this combination has positive effects on breast cancer cells through the reduction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) messenger RNA and protein levels.

Patients who may benefit from quercetin and dosage

Based on the numerous studies involving quercetin, patients with increased inflammation may benefit from taking this flavonoid. This includes those with conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Patients at higher risk of contracting and developing a viral infection can find vitamin C with quercetin benefits as well. As seen in some of the COVID-19 studies, quercetin appears to reduce the duration and severity of this type of pathogen.

The National Library of Medicine shares that quercetin doses not exceeding one gram per day are generally considered safe, especially when taken short-term (12 weeks or less).

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid taking quercetin as it is unclear whether it is safe for this demographic. It is also not recommended for patients with kidney issues and might interfere with some prescription medications, including medicines taken for diabetes and high blood pressure. So, patients should speak to their doctors before taking quercetin if they have been prescribed any other medications.

Choosing a quercetin supplement

Because vitamin C with quercetin benefits synergistic effects in patients, choosing a supplement that offers both ingredients can be a better choice. For instance, Dee Cee Laboratories offers a Quercetin Plus Vitamin C Formula 480 in which each capsule contains 250 mg quercetin and 700 mg vitamin C. This is well within the safety limits for quercetin while giving a good punch of vitamin C, another immune-boosting supplement.