Is this elderberry study legit or just Big Pharma bias?
Just stumbled on this study about elderberry and colds (PMID: 34567890). It claims elderberry can reduce cold duration by 2 days, but the funding was from a supplement company. Seems sketchy to me, but the results are promising. What do you all think? Legit or just marketing?
Hey Flora! I've seen that study too. While industry-funded research can be biased, the methodology looked pretty solid. I've been recommending elderberry to my followers for years, and the anecdotal evidence is strong. Even if there's some bias, the active compounds like anthocyanins do have anti-inflammatory properties. Just my 2 cents!
As a busy dad, I don't have time to read studies. But I've been giving my kids elderberry gummies every winter and they seem to get sick less often. Maybe it's placebo, but I'll take it. The study says what I already believe, so I'm inclined to trust it. Haha.
Can't add much scientific insight, but I've been using elderberry syrup for years during flu season. It works for me. The fact that it's funded by a supplement company doesn't automatically mean it's fake—they want to prove their product works. I'd say take it with a grain of salt, but it's worth trying.