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Two New Studies Test Quercetin And COVID Outcomes

AHA Publisher — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:00:14 +0000

Dr. Joseph Mercola – In an August 21, 2021, newsletter,1 Dr. Michael Murray discussed the use of quercetin for respiratory infection symptoms. In November 2020, he’d suffered a “very mild and brief bout of COVID-19.” He also recounts an anecdotal story of a friend who developed suspicious respiratory symptoms. His friend had been taking a number of supplements said to offer protection, but was still feeling awful. As it turns out, the one thing he’d not taken was quercetin, and as soon as he did, that same day, his symptoms started to dissipate. This experience, Murray says, “is consistent with the results from two clinical trials” that were recently published. Quercetin seems to be a safe, far less expensive, and easier-to-obtain and it works by a similar mechanism, driving zinc into the cells to stop viral replication. Statistical Improvement in Clinical Outcomes In the first study,2 42 COVID-19 outpatients were divided into two groups. One group of 21 patients received standard medical therapy consisting of analgesics and an antibiotic (acetaminophen 500-milligram (mg) to 1,000-mg dose if body temperature was higher than 37.5 degrees C — 99.5 F — with a maximum daily dosage of 3 grams, and 500 mg azithromycin for three consecutive days). The other group of 21 patients received standard therapy plus the equivalent of 600 mg of quercetin per day (divided into three doses) for seven days, followed by another seven-day course of 400 mg of quercetin per day (divided into two doses). The quercetin was used with sunflower lecithin, which has been demonstrated to increase absorption in the gut by as much as 20 times, compared to pure quercetin formulations. The main outcomes being evaluated were virus clearance and symptoms. After one week of treatment, 16 of the 21 patients in the quercetin group tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and 12 reported that all symptoms had diminished. In the standard care group, only two tested negative and four had partially improved symptoms. By the end of Week 2, the five remaining patients in the quercetin group tested negative. In the standard care group, 17 of the 19 remaining patients tested negative and one had died. “These results are impressive and hopefully additional studies will be conducted on hospitalized patients to see how quercetin might be helpful in more severe cases,” Murray wrote in his newsletter. Can Quercetin Reduce Hospitalizations and Deaths? The second study3 — a prospective, randomized, controlled and open-label trial — gave 152 COVID-19 outpatients a daily dose of 1,000 mg of quercetin for 30 days to evaluate its adjuvant effects in the treatment of early symptoms and the prevention of severe infection. According to the authors: “The results revealed a reduction in frequency and length of hospitalization, in need of non-invasive oxygen therapy, in progression to intensive care units and in number of deaths. The results also confirmed the very high safety profile of quercetin and suggested possible anti-fatigue and pro-appetite properties. QP (Quercetin Phytosome®) is a safe agent and in combination with standard care, when used in early stage of viral infection, could aid in improving the early symptoms and help in preventing the severity of COVID-19 disease. It is suggested that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study should be urgently carried out to confirm the results of our study.” Mechanisms of Action As noted in the first study4 above, quercetin was chosen based on the fact that it has antiviral, anti-blood clotting, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, all of which are important in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the second study, more detailed mechanisms of action are reviewed. According to the authors:5 “SARS-CoV-2 proteases, like 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), papain-like pro-tease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, spike (S)protein and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) are considered possible targets for developing effective anti-COVID-19 drugs. Recently, molecular docking studies have suggested the possible binding interaction of quercetin with the 3CLpro, PLpro, and S-hACE2 complex. Some recent results, obtained by biophysical techniques, appear to support the results of the molecular docking studies. Quercetin, a flavonol not naturally present in the human body, is the most abundant polyphenol in fruits and vegetable and is widely used as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system and promote a healthy lifestyle. Quercetin is characterized by three crucial properties: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. The combination of these actions allows quercetin to be a potential candidate to support all unhealthy conditions where oxidative stress, inflammation and immunity are involved.” Initially, quercetin gained attention because it’s a zinc ionophore, meaning it shuttles zinc — which has well-known antiviral effects — into your cells just like the drug hydroxychloroquine. In particular, quercetin exerts significant inhibition on the binding of specific spike proteins to ACE-2 receptors, thereby blocking the ability of the virus to infect human cells. Quercetin has also been shown to directly neutralize viral proteins the are critical in the replication of SARS-CoV-2. ~ Dr. Michael Murray Some proposed the primary reason hydroxychloroquine and quercetin worked was because of this feature. Of course, you also had to take zinc along with either of them. To effectively act as a zinc ionophore, the quercetin also needs vitamin C. Since then, other studies, including the two reviewed here, have shown quercetin has other actions that makes it useful against SARS-CoV-2 as well. As reported by Murray in his newsletter: “In particular, quercetin exerts significant inhibition on the binding of specific spike proteins to ACE-2 receptors, thereby blocking the ability of the virus to infect human cells. Quercetin has also been shown to directly neutralize viral proteins the are critical in the replication of SARS-CoV-2.” In some studies, quercetin has also been shown to inhibit the release of inflammatory cytokines, which could help alleviate infection-related symptoms and suppress excessive inflammatory responses from occurring. Its antioxidant effects may also help prevent tissue damage caused by scavenging free radicals, thereby aiding in the recovery process of viral infections.6 Quercetin’s Antiviral Properties Quercetin’s antiviral properties have been attributed to three main mechanisms of action: Inhibiting the virus’ ability to infect cells Inhibiting replication of already infected cells Reducing infected cells’ resistance to treatment with antiviral medication For example, research7 funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), published in 2008, found it lowers your risk of viral illness such as influenza and boosts mental performance following extreme physical stress, which might otherwise undermine your immune function and render you more susceptible to infections. Here, cyclists who received a daily dose of 1,000 mg of quercetin in combination with vitamin C (which enhances plasma quercetin levels8,9) and niacin (to improve absorption) for five weeks were significantly less likely to contract a viral illness after bicycling three hours a day for three consecutive days, compared to untreated controls. While 45% of the placebo group got sick, only 5% of the treatment group did. Quercetin Works Against Many Common Viruses Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, several studies had highlighted quercetin’s ability to prevent and treat the common cold and seasonal influenza.10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 By attenuating oxidative damage, it also lowers your risk of secondary bacterial infections,19 which is actually the primary cause of influenza-related deaths. Importantly, quercetin increases mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle, which suggests part of its antiviral effects are due to enhanced mitochondrial antiviral signaling.20 Quercetin also works against other viruses, as demonstrated in the following studies: • A 1985 study found quercetin inhibits infectivity and replication of herpes simplex virus type 1, polio-virus type 1, parainfluenza virus type 3 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).21 • A 2016 animal study22 found quercetin inhibited mouse dengue virus and hepatitis virus. • Other studies have confirmed quercetin’s power to inhibit both hepatitis B23 and C24 infection. • A March 2020 study25 found quercetin provides “comprehensive protection” against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, both in vitro and in vivo, primarily by neutralizing pneumolysin (PLY),26 one of the toxins released from pneumococci that encourages S. pneumoniae infection to blossom in the first place. Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible not only for pneumonia, but can also be involved in some ear and sinus infections, meningitis and certain blood infections.27 As reported by the authors of this study:28 “The results indicated that quercetin significantly reduced PLY-induced hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity via repressing the formation of oligomers. In addition, treatment with quercetin can reduce PLY-mediated cell injury, improve the survival rate of mice infected with a lethal dose of S. pneumoniae, alleviate the pathological damage of lung tissue and inhibit the release of cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Considering the importance of these events in antimicrobial resistant S. pneumoniae pathogenesis, our results indicated that quercetin may be a novel potential drug candidate for the treatment of clinical pneumococcal infections.” How Quercetin Combats Inflammation and Boosts Immunity Aside from its antiviral activity, quercetin is also known for boosting immunity and combating inflammation. As noted in a 2016 study29 in the journal Nutrients, mechanisms of action include (but is not limited to) the inhibition of:30 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) production in macrophages. TNF-α is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation, secreted by activated macrophages, a type of immune cell that digests foreign substances, microbes and other harmful or damaged components LPS-induced mRNA levels of TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-1α in glial cells, which results in “diminished apoptotic neuronal cell death” The production of inflammation-producing enzymes Calcium influx into the cell, which in turn inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine release, as well as histamine and serotonin release from intestinal mast cells31 According to this paper, quercetin also stabilizes mast cells, has cytoprotective activity in the gastrointestinal tract, and “a direct regulatory effect on basic functional properties of immune cells,” which allows it to inhibit “a huge panoply of molecular targets in the micromolar concentration range, either by down-regulating or suppressing many inflammatory pathways and functions.”32 Bioavailability While quercetin does have potent antiviral effects, in order for it to work effectively you need sufficiently high dosages to raise the level of quercetin in your body’s tissues. The relatively low absorption rate of quercetin is why a sunflower lecithin formulation was used. Research33 published in the July-December 2021 issue of the Journal of Natural Health Products Research, found a quercertin matrix has the same total absorption rate as quercetin phytosome — and higher peak blood levels. “Since both of these forms of quercetin produce similar blood levels, they should produce the same effects at equal dosages based upon quercetin content,” Murray wrote in his newsletter, adding: “My dosage recommendation as part of a nutritional supplement program to support immune function is 250 mg twice daily. And in patients with active Infection, my recommendation is … six capsules twice a day providing a total of 3,000 mg of quercetin. This high dosage should be taken for at least 10 days and then reduced to a maintenance dosage of 250 mg twice daily … [This] high dosage may not be necessary. But my dosage calculations are based upon likely tissue concentrations needed to exert the strongest antiviral effects. And given the safety of quercetin, there is no harm at this level.” Protocol Using Quercetin One doctor who early brought quercetin into the limelight was Dr. Vladimir Zelenko. As hydroxychloroquine became difficult to obtain, Zelenko switched to recommending quercetin instead, as it’s readily available as an over-the-counter supplement. For a downloadable “cheat sheet” of Zelenko’s protocol for COVID-19, visit VladimirZelenkoMD.com. Other Health Benefits of Quercetin There are also other lesser known benefits and uses for quercetin, including the prevention and/or treatment of:34 High blood pressure35,36 Cardiovascular disease37 Obesity38 and metabolic syndrome39 (a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglyceride levels and fat accumulation around the waist that raise your risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke) Certain kinds of cancer, in particular leukemia, and to a lesser degree breast cancer40 Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)41 Gout42 Arthritis43 Mood disorders44 Aluminum-induced neurodegenerative changes, such as those seen in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).45 Longevity, thanks to its senolytic benefits (clearing out damaged and worn-out cells)46,47 Research has also highlighted...

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Study Identifies Neural Connectivity Patterns Associated with Autism in Infants

AHA Publisher — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 07:00:36 +0000

Elsevier via News-Medical Net – Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely diagnosed until symptoms arise, often well into childhood. Evidence however, is mounting that developmental abnormalities likely emerge in the brain long before then: early identification of babies at risk for ASD could allow for interventions that would improve their developmental outcomes. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found evidence of signature brain activity in infants that predicted ASD symptoms later at 18 months old. The work, led by Shafali Jeste, MD, at UCLA appears in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. “Early identification and intervention is key to getting better outcomes for children with neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Cameron Carter, MD, Editor of Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. “This study suggests that relatively low-cost diagnostic tools such as EEG may, in the not-too-distant future, help us to do a better job by identifying atypical brain development in infancy, when interventions may be even more impactful than when offered to toddlers and young children.” The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique to measure electrical brain activity from outside the head and tracked neural activity in the so-called alpha range. Alpha-range activity is associated with long-range connections in the brain. The group then used an approach that allowed them to integrate data from across the brain. “One crucial aspect of brain development is the change in patterns of brain activity. We wanted to know if measures of neural activity could detect atypical brain development in ASD during early infancy.” (Abigail Dickinson, PhD, Study First Author, University of California) Dr. Dickinson and the team performed EEG measurements in 65 3-month-old infants; 29 with low familial risk of ASD and 36 at high risk, with an affected older sibling. When the children were 18-months-old, they were assessed for ASD by a trained clinician. The researchers used computer modeling to predict symptom outcomes at 18 months based on the babies’ neural activity in infancy. The model’s predictions correlated with the actual symptoms measured in the toddlers. The model was not able to predict verbal or non-verbal cognitive scores in the toddlers–suggesting that the brain connectivity pattern may be a specific marker of ASD. In infants that later showed higher ASD symptoms, researchers saw decreased connectivity between frontal regions. The infants also showed increased connections across temporo-parietal areas in the right hemisphere, which are associated with social information processing. “These findings improve our understanding of the neural differences that precede autism and show which brain regions reveal the earliest signs of disruption,” Dr. Dickinson said. The findings bolster the idea that disrupted brain connectivity is a root cause of ASD, not a consequence. The authors suggest that the low cost, wide availability and low risk of EEG make it a good screening tool to identify babies at higher risk of developing ASD or those with “borderline” symptoms, so that they get early intervention. “Mapping patterns of activity associated with autism could ultimately help identify infants who show early signs of neural risk,” Dr. Dickinson added. To read the original article click here.

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COVID-19 Symptoms vs. Seasonal Allergies

AHA Publisher — Mon, 04 May 2020 07:00:04 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – If you’re sneezing, coughing, rubbing your eyes, have a dry throat, and otherwise irritated respiratory system, you may be worried you’ve contracted COVID-19. Or, this time of year, it may simply be seasonal allergies. There are many commonalities between the two, and it’s important to identify COVID-19 symptoms vs. seasonal allergies as we move forward. But how? Here are 5 differences between COVID-19 symptoms vs. seasonal allergies. If you’re one of the 10-30% of all adults in the world who suffer from allergic rhinitis (1), give yourself peace of mind by knowing the difference between it and COVID-19 symptoms. 5 Differences Between COVID-19 Symptoms vs. Seasonal Allergies Seasonal allergies can be incredibly uncomfortable. For most adults, they cause sneezing, coughing, dry throat, and watery or itchy eyes. They can make time outdoors miserable. Having COVID-19, even a mild case, is not comfortable either. But, the symptoms, duration, and timing of it are different than allergy symptoms (2). Here are 5 key differences: 1. Timing of Symptoms Allergies symptoms come and go with the seasons and the amount of pollen (or other allergens) in the air. Of course, this timing can vary year to year due to different temperatures and climate, but generally, they occur at the same time of year each year. COVID-19, on the other hand, causes symptoms about 5-10 days (can be as soon as 2 days and a long as 14) after a person is infected. So, if you go outside on a high-pollen day and start sneezing and coughing, it’s more likely allergies than COVID-19. If symptoms creep up without an obvious immediate cause, it’s more likely COVID-19 or another virus. 2. Fever vs. Non-Fever Although not every COVID-19 case includes a fever, it’s still a common hallmark symptom of COVID-19. Allergies do not cause fevers. If you have a mild fever, typically around 100 degree F, it’s more likely COVID-19 (or something else) than allergies. 3. History vs. New Symptoms Most adults who experience seasonal allergies have had them for many years. They have a history of them and can identify the causes each year. If you are experiencing new symptoms this year, that do not line up with your typical seasonal allergies symptoms, something different is going on. 4. Less Common COVID-19 Symptoms vs. Absence of Symptoms As we learn more and more about COVID-19 and individual symptoms, we are identifying alternate non-respiratory symptoms. These include headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and less commonly, gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. These are not typical seasonal allergy symptoms. If you are experiencing them, it is more likely COVID-19 or something else than seasonal allergies. 5. Consistency and Duration For most COVID-19 patients who have symptoms, they feel sick consistently for several days and up to 2 weeks or more. Their symptoms don’t vary with the weather, or whether or not they go outside like seasonal allergy symptoms. Overlapping Symptoms Even though there are many differences, the central respiratory symptoms remain the same for both conditions: sneezing coughing dry throat respiratory tightness or heaviness If you have any of these symptoms and do not believe they are seasonal allergies, follow the recommendations to reduce the risk of infecting others, especially those who would be high-risk for severe COVID-19. Allergy Recommendations If you have seasonal allergies, follow these tips to reduce your symptoms: 10 NATURAL WAYS TO REDUCE SEASONAL ALLERGIES Bottom Line It’s the time of year when millions of Americans begin coughing, sneezing, experiencing itchy eyes, and generally feel attacked by the outdoors. But, is it allergies, or COVID-19? Use the differences listed above to determine the cause of your symptoms. And, of course, follow your local guidelines to stay safe in your community if you’ve contracted COVID-19. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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