Quercetin and Zinc: Dr Zelenko Prevention and Treatment Protocol (2022)
Quercetin is a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory plant pigment that boosts your immune system and may work to control viral replication, according to some research. It allows zinc to exert its proven antiviral properties; in treating COVID-19, quercetin may also lower inflammation, help clear mucus, prevent ventilator-induced damage and support immunity.
According to the research, quercetin has been shown to help fight obesity, Type 2 diabetes, circulatory dysfunction, chronic inflammation and mood disorders. It has even been found to help lower blood pressure. Researchers have found that quercetin can trigger tumor regression and begin the process of apoptosis. This is programmed cell death, without which cells can grow uninterrupted and develop into cancerous growths.![]() |
| McCullough et al. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2020 |
Zinc and Quercetin
- How much zinc you should take per day depends on the type and forms of zinc, as each supplement contains a different amount of 'elemental zinc'. The percentage of elemental zinc varies by form.
- Inorganic zinc such as zinc sulfate, is not as effective or useable by your body as chelated zinc sources.
- Zinc ion can tightly bind to a number of substances, such as citric acid, potentially preventing the release of free zinc ions from lozenges in the oropharyngeal region. Zinc gluconate lozenges have been suggested to be less effective than zinc acetate lozenges, but a meta-analysis of seven trials with a total of 575 common cold participants did not find significant difference between lozenges composed of the two salts. (Ref)
- A high intake of zinc (150 mg a day or above) and vitamin C (over 1,500
mg a day) may induce copper deficiency by competing with copper for
absorption in the intestine. (Ref)
- For example, approximately 23% of zinc sulfate consists of elemental zinc; thus, 220 mg of zinc sulfate contains 50 mg of elemental zinc (Ref). Zinc picolinate (20% of elemental zinc), zinc ascorbate (15%), zinc chloride (48%), zinc carbonate (52%), zinc citrate (31%), zinc bisglycinate (25%) (Ref) and zinc gluconate (14%) and zinc oxide (80%) (Ref).
- The AAPS (Association of American Physicians and Surgeons) recommends zinc sulfate, gluconate or citrate. These forms are available in pharmacies, health food stores, and sold online. Zinc sulfate 220 mg provides 50 mg elemental zinc, the recommended anti-viral dose. Zinc in the form of zinc picolinate form is not recommended following reports of liver damage and tumors from studies about 20 years ago. Following these reports, the German Commission E that regulates supplements used in medical practice in Germany banned this form of zinc.
Zelenko Covid-19 Prophylaxis Protocol
Low Risk Patients
Young healthy people do not need prophylaxis against COVID-19. In young and healthy people, this infection causes mild cold-like symptoms. It is advantageous for these patients to be exposed to COVID-19, build up their antibodies and have their immune system clear the virus. This will facilitate the development of herd immunity and help prevent future Covid-19 pandemics. However, if these patients desire prophylaxis against COVID-19, then they should take the protocol noted below.
Moderate Risk Patients
Patients from this category are healthy but have high potential viral-load exposure. This group includes medical personnel, caregivers of high-risk patients, people who use public transportation, first responders and other essential personnel who are crucial to the continued functioning of society. These patients should be encouraged to take prophylaxis against Covid-19 in accordance with the protocol noted below.
High Risk Patients
Patients are considered high risk if they are over the age of 45, or if they are younger than 45 but they have comorbidities, that is, they have other health conditions that put them at risk. These patients have between a 5 to 10% mortality rate if they are infected with Covid-19. These patients should be strongly encouraged to take prophylaxis against Covid-19 in accordance with the protocol noted below.
Do nothing
Completely optional
- Zinc (Elemental Zinc) 25mg 1 time a day (PubMed) (Amazon)
- Vitamin D3 5000 iu 1 time a day (vdnmeta.com) (Amazon)
- Vitamin C 250 - 500 mg 1 time a day (PubMed) (Amazon)
- Quercetin 250 mg 1 time a day until a safe and efficacious vaccine becomes available (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014) (Amazon)
- If Quercetin is unavailable, then use Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) 200mg 1 time a day (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014)
- Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200 mg once a day for 5 days, then HCQ 200-400mg one time a week (ScienceDirect) (Find a Doctor)
- Vitamin D3 5000 IU/day or 50000 IU once a week (Amazon)
- Vitamin C 1000mg once a day (Amazon)
- Zinc 25-50mg/day (Amazon)
OR
- Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg — one dose on day 1 and day 3, then take one dose weekly (ivmmeta.com) (Find a Doctor).
- Vitamin D3 5000 IU/day or 50000 IU once a week (Amazon)
- Vitamin C 1000mg once a day (Amazon)
- Quercetin 500mg/day (Amazon)
- Zinc 25-50mg/day (Amazon)
- Zinc is critical. It helps block the virus from multiplying. Hydroxychloroquine is the carrier taking zinc INTO the cells to do its job.
- Vitamin D3: Preferable in oil capsules for better absorption.
- Should quercetin be taken with zinc? Yes. Quercetin works best when taken with vitamin C and Bromelain, as vitamin C helps activate it and bromelain helps with the absorption. Vitamin C does not affect the absorption of normal dietary levels of zinc (Ref). Further, quercetin helps the transport of zinc across the cell membrane as a zinc ionophore.
- The use of HCQ is highly controversial. The best scientific evidence from randomized controlled trials suggests that HCQ has limited/no proven benefit for post exposure prophylaxis, for the early symptomatic phase and in hospitalized patients. Considering, the unique pharmacokinetics of HCQ it is unlikely that HCQ would be of benefit in patients with COVID-19 infection (it takes 5–10 days to achieve adequate plasma and lung concentrations). Finally, it should be recognized that those studies which are widely promoted to support the use of HCQ are severely methodologically flawed.
- Source: Page 16 of FLCCC Alliance – COVID-19 Management Protocol (version June 21, 2021)
- Although ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are relatively safe drugs, they are still synthetic chemicals that can have side effects. Vitamin D, C, Zinc and Quercetin are nutrients that your body require for optimal health. Nutrients are safer alternatives especially if your risk is low e.g. age below 50 and no other chronic illness. Discuss with your doctor on the benefit vs risk for each treatment.
- Quercetin has one moderate drug interaction with warfarin. Do not take quercetin without medical advice if you are using warfarin.
- Z-Stack Supplement: In an effort to make it easier for patients, Dr Zelenko has developed an oral supplement that contains all four: vitamin C, quercetin, vitamin D3 and zinc. It’s called Z-Stack Vitamins.
Zelenko Protocol - Treatment Plan for Patients with COVID-19 symptoms
Fundamental Principles (Dr Zelenko Protocol When to Start)

Patient Categories
Low risk patient - Younger than 45, no co-morbidities, and clinically stableHigh risk patient - Older than 45, younger than 45 with co-morbidities, or clinically unstable
Treatment Options
Low risk patients - over the counter options:
1. Zinc (Elemental) 50 mg 1 time a day for 7 days (PubMed) (Amazon)
2.1. Quercetin 500 mg 2 times a day for 7 days (PubMed) (Amazon) OR
2.2. Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) 400 mg 1 time a day for 7 days (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014)
4. Vitamin D3 5000 IU 1 time a day for 7 days (Amazon)
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200mg 2 times a day for 5-7 days (ScienceDirect) (Find a Doctor)
and/or
Ivermectin 0.4-0.5mg/kg/day for 5-7 days (ivmmeta.com) (Find a Doctor)
Either or both HCQ and IVM can be used, and if one only, the second agent may be added after about 2 days of treatment if obvious recovery has not yet been observed etc.
If HCQ is not available, Quercetin 500mg 3 times a day for 7 days OR EGCG 400mg 2 times a day for 7 days
1. Elemental Zinc 50 - 100 mg 1 time a day for 7 days (Amazon)
2. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 200mg 2 times a day for 7 days (Find a Doctor)
3. Azithromycin 500mg 1 time a day for 5 days OR Doxycycline 100mg 2 times a day for 7 days
4. Vitamin C 1000 mg 1 time a day for 7 days (Amazon)
5. Vitamin D3 10,000 IU 1 time a day for 7 days (Amazon)
- Dexamethasone 6-12mg 1 time a day for 7 days OR Prednisone 20mg twice a day for 7 days, taper as needed.
- Budesonide 1mg/2cc solution via nebulizer twice a day for 7 days.
- Blood thinners (i.e. Aspirin, Lovenox, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa) (Amazon)
- Colchicine 0.6mg 2-3 times a day for 5-7 days.
- Monoclonal antibodies.
- Home IV fluids and oxygen.
About Dr Vladimir Zelenko
He graduated with a B.A. degree with high honors in Chemistry from Hofstra University. After receiving an academic scholarship to attend S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo School of Medicine, he earned his M.D. degree in May 2000. Dr. Zelenko completed his family medicine residency at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, N.Y. in May 2004. Since then, Dr. Zelenko has practiced family medicine in New York’s Hudson Valley. He has been described by his patients as like a family member to thousands of families, and is a medical adviser to the volunteer ambulance corps in Kiryas Joel, New York.When asked about studies that seemed to discredit the efficacy of HCQ in treating the coronavirus, Zelenko explained “You don’t fire a gun without a bullet in it and then say the gun doesn’t work when you don’t kill the target. The studies that were done on HCQ did not include the use of Zinc. HCQ is what opens the cell and enables Zinc to attack the virus. One is not effective without the other, or without a suitable substitute for HCQ. The studies were designed to fail.”
Dr. Zelenko says that both prophylaxis measures and actual case treatments need to be customized to the individual. As a general rule, he says, those people who are in the higher risk groups, both by age and by other pre-existing conditions, require more aggressive actions on both the preventative and diagnostic side.
“This virus remains relatively stable inside the host for about the first five days,” Zelenko says. “After that it starts to multiply rapidly. It also starts to migrate from sinus to lungs and cardio areas where involvement becomes more severe and treatment becomes more difficult. The key is early intervention.” Zelenko again mentioned his 84% success rate in high-risk patients.






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