Elderberry study: legit or just Big Supplement shilling?
Hey everyone, I just read this study (PMID: 34567890) that says elderberry extract reduces cold duration by 3 days. Sounds too good to be true? The study was funded by a supplement company, though. What do y'all think? Is this just marketing dressed up as science?
Ugh, another industry-funded study. I always check who paid for it. Even if there's decent methodology, bias can slip in. My rule: if it's funded by someone who profits from sales, I take it with a grain of salt. But I've heard elderberry has some traditional use... Still, I want to see independent replications.
As a retired nurse, I've seen lots of supplement studies come and go. This one seems plausible, but correlation isn't causation. I tell my old pals: try it if you want, but don't ditch your flu shot. The funding thing is a red flag, but not a dealbreaker. Could be legit if they used proper placebo controls.
I'm a broke student, so I only buy supplements that are proven. But I can't afford to wait for independent studies. I'll check if they list conflicts of interest and see if other research backs it up. If it's just this one, I'll pass. Also, does anyone know if elderberry works for kids? My little brother gets sick all the time.
Good points! I'm leaning towards it being a bit sketchy. I'll search for more unbiased reviews. Ursula, I think there are some kids' gummies with elderberry, but always check with your pediatrician. Thanks for the input, everyone!