Elderberry juice may improve metabolism and gut health, as a recent study found that it reduces blood sugar and boosts fat burning due to its high anthocyanin content.
A recent study conducted by Washington State University suggests that elderberry juice may support weight management and improve metabolic health.
The clinical trial, published in the journal Nutrientsfound that consuming 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week led to beneficial changes in the gut microbiome, improved glucose tolerance, and increased fat oxidation.
Elderberries are small, dark purple berries that come from elderberries native to Europe. Although they are widely used in supplements to boost immune function, their other potential health benefits remain largely unexplored.
“Elderberry is an underappreciated berry, commercially and nutritionally,” said corresponding author Patrick Solverson, assistant professor in the department of nutrition and exercise physiology at WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. “We are now beginning to recognize its value for human health, and the results are very promising. »
Clinical trial highlights metabolic benefits
Researchers tested the effects of elderberry on metabolic health in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 18 overweight adults. Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a placebo of similar coloring and taste, specially designed by North Carolina State University‘s Food Innovation Lab, while maintaining a standardized diet.
Clinical testing after the intervention showed that participants who consumed elderberry juice had significantly higher amounts of beneficial gut bacteria, including Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, and decreased amounts of harmful bacteria, such as Bacteroidetes. . A healthy gut microbiome is essential for nutrient absorption and promotes physical and mental health.
In addition to positive changes in the microbiota, the elderberry intervention resulted in improved metabolism. The results showed that elderberry juice reduced participants’ blood sugar levels by 24% on average, indicating a significantly improved ability to process sugars after consuming carbohydrates. The results also showed a 9% decrease insulin levels.
Additionally, the results suggest that elderberry juice may improve the body’s ability to burn fat. Participants who received elderberry juice showed a significant increase in fat oxidation, or the breakdown of fatty acids, after a high-carb meal and during exercise.
Anthocyanins: the key to the benefits of elderberry
Researchers attribute these positive effects to elderberry’s high concentration of anthocyanins, plant-derived bioactive compounds that have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial effects.
“Food is medicine, and science is catching up with this folk wisdom,” Solverson said. “This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, used as a folk remedy for centuries, has many benefits for metabolic and prebiotic health.”
Other berries contain anthocyanins, but usually in lower concentrations. A person would have to consume four cups of blackberries per day to get the same dose of anthocyanin found in 6 ounces of elderberry juice, Solverson said.
Although elderberry products are less popular in the United States than in Europe, demand has exploded over the past decade. COVID-19 pandemic and elderberry continues to be a growing market.
Researchers have filed a provisional patent for the use of bioactive components of American black elderberry for weight management and gut health through supplements or other applications. The WSU Office of Commercialization helps find commercialization opportunities with more information available at (email protected).
This research was supported by a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award number 2020-67018-30851. The research team included collaborators from Colorado State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Vermont.
With an additional $600,000 in funding from NIFA, researchers plan to explore other applications of elderberry juice, including whether it can help people who have stopped taking weight-loss medications maintain their weight. They note that further studies are needed to confirm their initial results and to determine the long-term effects of elderberry on various populations.
Reference: “One-week intervention with elderberry juice increases fecal microbiota and suggests improved glucose tolerance and fat oxidation in a randomized controlled trial” by Christy Teets, Nancy Ghanem, Guoying Ma, Jagrani Minj, Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Sarah A. Johnson, Andrea J. Etter, Franck G. Carbonero and Patrick M. Solverson, October 19, 2024, Nutrients.
DOI: 10.3390/nu16203555