Elderberry supplementation reduced cold duration and symptoms

Passengers who took an elderberry supplement when travelling overseas on long-haul flights had a significant reduction of duration and severity of viral upper respiratory tract infections compared to those who didn’t, according to recent Australian data. Lead author, Professor Evelin Tiralongo from the School of Pharmacy, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, and colleagues, randomised 312 economy class passengers travelling from Australia to an overseas destination to either a standardised membrane filtered elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) extract or placebo, to investigate if elderberry has beneficial effects on physical, especially respiratory, and mental health.