Elderberry study from 2023 - legit or big pharma shill?
Hey guys, I came across this study (PMID: 37291456) about elderberry and immune function. It says elderberry can reduce cold duration by like 2 days. But I'm always skeptical of these 'miracle' berries. Anyone read it? Is it legit or just another biased study funded by supplement companies? I want to believe but I've been burned before. Here's the abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37291456/ What do you all think?
I glanced at it. The study is a randomized controlled trial, which is good, but the sample size is small (only 60 people). Also, the funding source is a supplement company that makes elderberry gummies. So yeah, take it with a grain of salt. That said, elderberry has been used for centuries in folk medicine, so there might be something to it. I'd say it's not totally bunk, but I wouldn't rely on it alone. Maybe combine with zinc and vitamin C.
LOL, another 'superfood' study. I swear every week there's a new berry that's gonna save us all. I'm more of a tech guy, so I track my health with my Oura ring and WHOOP. Elderberry? Never noticed a difference. But hey, if you like the taste, go for it. Just don't expect it to be a magic bullet. Also, that PMID link looks like it's from 2023, so it's recent. But who funded it? That's always the question.
I'm all about caffeine, but I'll chime in. Elderberry gummies are tasty, but I doubt they do much. I've taken them when I felt a cold coming on, and sometimes it helped, sometimes not. Placebo effect is strong. The study might be legit but I wouldn't change my whole routine based on one study. Also, check if it's peer-reviewed. If it's in a predatory journal, toss it. But if it's in a decent journal, maybe worth a look. Anyone got the full text?
Thanks for the input, everyone! I think I'll try a small bottle and see. But yeah, I'm with you on the funding bias. Maybe I'll look for independent studies too. If anyone finds more, let me know!