A Medical Problem: What are Quercetin and Zinc Benefits?

It is essential for maintaining health to have a strong immune system, which has further been confirmed by the new coronavirus outbreak. Nowadays, people have been beginning to realize how important it is to have a healthy immune function. One of the suggestions on how to improve natural immunity is taking zinc and quercetin together. Several studies have proven that the potential quercetin and zinc benefits when taken together can be maximized, which will be introduced in detail.

What is Quercetin?

Quercetin is a naturally occurring pigment found in many foods. As a result, the body is fully capable of obtaining the amount it needs daily through dietary sources because there are significant amounts of quercetin in foods as an antioxidant.

Foods that are rich in quercetin include blueberries, broccoli, apples, kale, baby tomatoes, and onions.

Health Benefits of Quercetin

It has health benefits due to its antioxidant properties. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are prone to cause damage to the body and lead to the development of chronic diseases. Quercetin helps in scavenging and neutralizing excess free radicals, thereby reducing damage to the body.

In addition, it relieves symptoms of chilblain fever or allergies because of its antihistamine properties. This substance also can lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels, help reduce inflammation, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and other heart conditions, and has anti-cancer properties that prevent the growth and spread of tumors in the body.

The role of zinc in the human immune system

A paper on zinc deficiency in 2023 shows that zinc is a second messenger for immune cells, and intracellular free zinc in these cells is involved in signaling events. It also stops viral replication within minutes in cell culture, so zinc is very effective in reducing viral infections in older adults. Zinc not only regulates cell-mediated immunity, but it is also an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. So zinc is essential for healthy immune function.

The problem is that zinc is insoluble and cannot easily enter through the fatty walls of the cell. Getting into the cell for zinc is critical because this is where viral replication occurs. So that is the reason why some researchers are dedicated to studying zinc ion carriers that can help zinc enter through cells easily.

Quercetin and zinc benefits as a golden pair for the immune system

After introducing quercetin and zinc benefits respectively, we will discuss the benefits when taking them together. Several laboratory studies have verified the relationship between the intake of quercetin and the absorption rate of zinc. Quercetin is a carrier of zinc ions, which is responsible for delivering zinc ions from the outside of the cell through the cell wall to the inside of the cell.

To exert the antiviral effects of zinc, zinc must reach the center of the cell, where the virus is constantly replicating itself. Because of the barrier effect of the cell wall, zinc ions are not able to enter the cell as easily. Therefore, a zinc carrier such as quercetin is required to assist zinc to cross the cell wall barrier, enter the cell, and exert its antiviral effects.

A study published in 2016 aimed to verify whether polyphenols such as quercetin can form complexes with zinc and cross cell wall barriers. The results have confirmed that quercetin and 14 other polyphenols can bind to zinc to form a complex that can easily pass through any cell lipid membrane. So taking quercetin and zinc at the same time can result in a good immune boost.

‌‌‌‌A healthy way to replenish quercetin and zinc

While supplements are essential during illness, it is a better choice to consume food daily to intake quercetin and zinc. Here are foods that contain both zinc and quercetin: cashews with red grapes, pork chops with baked apples, steak hock with tomato salad, and Greek yogurt with a variety of berries.

Conclusion

Finally, we would like to sum up some main views on the topic of “What are quercetin and zinc benefits”. Quercetin is a nutrient with antioxidant properties that supplements other essential nutrients to support immune health. Zinc is known for its immune-supporting properties. The disadvantage of zinc is that it does not easily enter into the cells through cell walls. However, when taking quercetin and zinc elements together, quercetin can act as a zinc ion carrier to help zinc enter the cells, so the benefits of quercetin and zinc for the human immune system can be greatly improved.