Can Quercetin Help Curtail Early-Stage COVID-19 Risk? Find Out Here! Can Quercetin Help Curtail Early-Stage COVID-19 Risk? Find Out Here!
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Can Quercetin Help Curtail Early-Stage COVID-19 Risk? Find Out Here!

Pharma Tech Outlook | Thursday, July 08, 2021

Quercetin has important pharmacological features, such as broad-spectrum antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-protective actions, making it a promising option to help with oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunology in various diseases.

FREMONT, CA: When taken in combination with standard therapy in the early stages of COVID-19, Quercetin Phytosome supplementation may assist in improving early conditions and prevent the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, it statistically reduces the time it takes for a molecular test to go from positive to negative. These are the findings of two recent human studies, which were based on a large amount of data produced in the last 15 months for quercetin: the data suggested that this polyphenol, whose properties in supporting respiratory health have been scientifically proven, could be a potential adjuvant to manage COVID-19 early stage conditions.

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Amid the global emergency caused by COVID-19, following the guidelines set by international and local health authorities is very vital and thus required. The severe and required guidelines that everyone must follow include social separation, mask use, and visiting a doctor if any symptoms emerge. It is also crucial to keep in mind that only medications should be utilized in emergencies. On the other hand, it is important recalling that some botanical compounds, such as quercetin, have been shown to modify immunological and inflammatory responses in people with respiratory problems.

“Starting from the mentioned evidences, we carried out a first prospective, randomized, controlled, and open-label study, in which in addition to standard care a daily dose of 1000 mg of quercetin Phytosome was investigated for 30 days in 152 COVID-19 outpatients to disclose its adjuvant effect in treating the early symptoms and in preventing the severe outcomes of the disease,” says Prof. Dr. Ikram Ujjan, MBBS, PhD, Pro Vice Chancellor, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, Pakistan. “According to the results of this clinical research, the add-on therapy with quercetin Phytosome has significantly reduced the need (−68.2 percent) and the length (−76.8 percent) of hospitalization, the need of non-invasive oxygen therapy (−93.3 percent), the progression to intensive care units (none versus eight subjects) and the number of deaths (none versus 3 subjects). Globally considered, using quercetin Phytosome as add-on therapy to standard care has reduced by 91.6 percent the days of hospitalization”.

Quercetin is the most prevalent polyphenol in fruits and vegetables and is extensively used as a dietary supplement to improve the immune system and promote a healthy lifestyle. It is not naturally present in the human body. Quercetin has important pharmacological features, such as broad-spectrum antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-protective actions, making it a promising option to help with oxidative stress, inflammation, and immunology in various diseases. Among these conditions are discomforts connected to cardiovascular health, healthy aging, bones and joint health, sport and physical activity, gastro-intestinal and respiratory health.

The first study’s interesting findings prompted researchers to conduct a follow-up study to focus on the preliminary findings.

“In our two weeks, randomized, open-label, and controlled human study, we have enrolled 42 COVID-19 outpatients. Twenty-one have been treated with the standard of care (SC), and 21 with quercetin Phytosome as add-on supplementation to the SC. Our main aims were to check virus clearance and symptoms and one of our primary endpoints was time needed to become negative at the RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2,” explains Francesco Di Pierro, Scientific & Research Department, Velleja Research, Milan, Italy. “Our initial results demonstrated the beneficial role played by quercetin Phytosome after only one week of add-on supplementation. In particular, the use of quercetin Phytosome at the dose of 1500 mg/day for one week followed using 1000 mg/day for another week (corresponding to 600 and 400 mg of quercetin per day, respectively), has demonstrated to significantly increase the clearance of the virus, reduce the symptoms occurrence and improve disease biomarkers. An enlargement of this study is currently ongoing”.

“Quercetin has diverse health benefits and has been widely used as a dietary supplement to boost the body’s immune system and keep a healthy lifestyle. Tackling the COVID-19 in the early stage of infection is very crucial to minimize the severity of the disease. The results of the two pilot clinical studies are very encouraging and deserve further clinical explorations in the context of COVID-19. Quercetin is a safe, affordable, and worldwide available agent,” says Dr. Amjad Khan, Postdoc/DPhil/M.Sc (Oxford University), University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan”.

Quercetin, like many other botanical extracts and natural compounds, has low water solubility. As a result, it is only marginally bio-absorbable, limiting its potential usefulness. Natural goods must have a good combination of hydrophilicity for dissolving in the gastro-intestinal fluids and lipophilicity for crossing the cell’s lipidic bio-membranes for effective bio-absorption. Quercefit, Indena’s quercetin in a delivery-food grade system with sunflower phospholipids (Phytosome), has been shown to boost oral absorption up to 20-fold in both of the tests mentioned. Indena’s proprietary 100 percent food-grade biomimetic delivery method, Phytosome, results from a wealth of experience and expertise in product and process development.

“As an Italian company, we are very proud to be part of such important international studies focused on a signature ingredient of Indena, such as quercetin phytosome,” says Stefano Togni, Corporate Director for Business Development and Licensing, Indena S.p. A. “This is another step of the work Indena has been committing to since one hundred years, in order to support scientific research in the field of botanical active ingredients. Company’s continuous investment in innovation and design of proprietary technologies for the quality, safety and efficacy of ingredients, are the pillars on which Indena has built its leadership in the botanical sector as well as its inspiration for the future business”.

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