There’s been enormous growth in the dietary supplement industry with elderberry being promoted to decrease the duration of the common flu, but the research is inconclusive to date. It’s also important to acknowledge that much of the research on elderberry has been sponsored (funded in part or whole) by companies that manufacture the supplements, thus there is an inherent bias in the outcome. And, most of the research has been done in a laboratory simply testing a group molecules to see how they react to each other, but human clinical trials aren’t as promising. What’s more, the concentration of elderberry extract has yet to be standardized nor quantified to see what form and level of the compound is needed to make a difference in health outcomes. Elderberry products on the market don’t necessarily contain the same amount of elderberry extract used in research studies, and they may contain a variety of other additives.
Caution with COVID-19: As consumers have been even more concerned about COVID-19 over the past year, rampant marketing by supplement manufacturers has claimed that elderberry can protect against the virus. But there are no published research studies to date suggesting such. In fact, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, which oversees such products on the market) along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC, which works to stop unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices in the marketplace) have taken action against companies that have marketed products with unsubstantiated claims for COVID-19.
True, elderberry is a rich source of anthocyanins, the dark purple pigment that gives them—as well as blueberries and blackberries—their color. These and other colorful fruits and vegetables contain antioxidant and immunologic properties. The plant compounds in elderberry work to increase production of cytokines, proteins that fight infection, which of course, tends to be good, in mild to moderate viruses. But in severe COVID-19 infections, the body can overreact to the virus by contributing to a ‘cytokine storm’ that can damage the lungs. Thus, taking elderberry has the potential to be harmful in anyone with COVID-19.
It’s also very important to keep in mind that neither the FDA, nor any other regulatory agency, reviews and approves ANY and ALL dietary supplements based on their safety and effectiveness before a supplement appears in the store or online. The only way the FDA evaluates the safety of a marketed dietary supplement is after an adverse event has been reported, or objective research has deemed a concern.
According to ConsumerLab.com, an independent agency that tests the quality of dietary supplements, some elderberry supplements on the market do not actually contain any elderberry at all. In 2019, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), which standardizes medicines and food for quality and safety, published a monograph specifying that elderberry extracts should contain specific anthocyanins that are at least 17% of the extract weight. The combination of increased consumer demand for elderberry and delayed shipments due to the pandemic has increased the desire for a reliable and legitimate supply. Manufacturers have experienced difficulties in obtaining high-quality bulk elderberry extracts, as there are some fraudulent suppliers who sell adulterated products. A few US elderberry suppliers have begun to take steps to protect the supply chain by working with other stakeholders to validate analytical methods to identify and authenticate against adulteration.
My Bottom Line: Based on current research and direction from the National Institutes of Health, there just isn’t enough information to demonstrate that elderberry is helpful for preventing or treating cold and flu. There’s no panacea that can replicate eating a healthful diet of whole foods rich in vegetables and fruits that provide immune-boosting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, such as the anthocyanins found in elderberry. In addition to blueberries and blackberries, anthocyanin-rich foods include red and black raspberries, red cabbage, black plums and currants, and red radishes among other foods. Certainly, other colorful vegetables and fruits, including sweet potatoes, broccoli, apples and cranberries and many other plant foods also have nutritious phytochemicals. The synergistic effect of nutrients in whole foods are the most bioavailable to the body. Staying well-hydrated is vital to help preventing colds and flu, as is good sleep hygiene and regular physical activity. Of course proper hand washing and social distancing are also essential. Finally, there have been news reports of accidental poisoning from inadequate preparation of home brew or homemade elderberry syrup. Eat Well ~ BE Well!
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