Another area where the benefits of elderberry are of interest is in support of cardiometabolic health outcomes. One study found that people with overweight or obesity who drank elderberry juice had higher carbohydrate and fat oxidation than those who took placebo; however, there were no differences in energy expenditure or glucose/insulin response.[1] An observational, non-placebo-controlled study of a combination therapy of elderberry and asparagus extracts (1 mg anthocyanin, 370 mg flavonol, 150 mg hydroxycinnamate, and 19 mg saponin per day) noted a decrease in mean weight and improvements in blood pressure among its participants, but since all participants took the supplement and additionally fasted for several days, it is difficult to know whether to attribute these results to the supplementation.[2]
A small, non-placebo-controlled study of healthy individuals noted decreases in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, and improvements in antioxidant capacity, after 30 days of elderberry consumption (200 mL/day of an infusion of S. ebulus berries).[3] However, when another small study randomized healthy participants to drink elderberry juice or a placebo for two weeks, no differences in triglyceride levels were seen between groups.[4] In a third study, which randomized postmenopausal women to take elderberry or placebo for 12 weeks, no reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors were observed in the elderberry group when compared to the placebo group.[5]
To recap: while there have been some promising results, the evidence to date is mixed and larger randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the existence of positive effects.
References
- ^Rust BM, Riordan JO, Carbonero FG, Solverson PMOne-Week Elderberry Juice Treatment Increases Carbohydrate Oxidation after a Meal Tolerance Test and Is Well Tolerated in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.Nutrients.(2023-Apr-25)
- ^Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar, Neda Nayebi, Bagher Larijani, Mohammad AbdollahiA systematic review of the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of obesityWorld J Gastroenterol.(2009 Jul 7)
- ^Ivanova D, Tasinov O, Kiselova-Kaneva YImproved lipid profile and increased serum antioxidant capacity in healthy volunteers after Sambucus ebulus L. fruit infusion consumption.Int J Food Sci Nutr.(2014-Sep)
- ^Murkovic M, Abuja PM, Bergmann AR, Zirngast A, Adam U, Winklhofer-Roob BM, Toplak HEffects of elderberry juice on fasting and postprandial serum lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.Eur J Clin Nutr.(2004-Feb)
- ^Curtis PJ, Kroon PA, Hollands WJ, Walls R, Jenkins G, Kay CD, Cassidy ACardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks.J Nutr.(2009-Dec)