The elderberry nutritional science summary is written by Dr. Cathy Stein specifically for Trisha’s Elderberries. All rights reserved. Dr. Cathy Stein has a PhD in epidemiology and her research focuses on infectious disease susceptibility. She currently holds a tenured faculty position.
Note: all randomized controlled trials were double-blinded with a placebo
Inhibition of Several Strains of Influenza Virus in Vitro and Reduction of Symptoms by an Elderberry Extract {Sambucus nigra L.) during an Outbreak of Influenza B Panama, THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE (1995)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9395631/
- Randomized control trial (RCT) conducted in Southern Israel, using commercially produced elderberry syrup
- N=27 included in final analysis
- Subjects did not also take flu vaccine
- Statistically significantly less days of fever seen in elderberry group compared to placebo and most had recovered 5 days after initiation of treatment
- No side effects seen in elderberry group.
- Study also included in vitro experiments that will be summarized elsewhere
- Limitations: odds ratios were uninterpretable because tables were not very detailed and confidence intervals were not provided, placebo and intervention groups were not well balanced with respect to sex
Keywords: RCT, influenza, improvement of symptoms, cure