Madeleine_Steinbach / Getty Images Elderberry juice—a liquid made from elderberries—may support weight loss, researchers report.
The research suggests that drinking a daily serving of elderberry juice may boost fat metabolism, improve gut health, and lower blood sugar levels.
The results are promising, but experts say regular exercise and an overall healthy diet are still key for weight loss.
Can elderberry juice play a role in weight management? Potentially, according to the authors of a new study.
The research, published in the journal Nutrients , found that drinking a daily serving of elderberry juice may improve gut health, lower blood sugar levels, and increase fat metabolism—three key players in weight management.1
Elderberry juice is a liquid made from elderberries , a dark purple fruit found on European or Black elder trees, which are native to Europe. Long used in folk medicine, the berries have more recently been promoted as a popular way to relieve respiratory symptoms from the common cold, COVID-19, and other viruses.
Now, new research—the first human clinical trial of its kind, according to the study’s authors—shows it may also have “anti-obesity” effects. Though the results are encouraging, experts caution that the study is small and more research is needed to understand elderberry juice’s true effect on weight.
Here’s what researchers found. Promising Results
The study involved 18 overweight or obese but otherwise healthy adults. Some patients were given about 12 ounces of 100% elderberry juice twice daily for two weeks, while researchers gave others a placebo. As a randomized, controlled trial—considered the gold standard in medical research—the participants didn’t know whether they drank elderberry juice or the placebo.After the first week, participants underwent a three-week “washout” period to clear their systems.“Each treatment period included four days of controlled feeding with a 40% fat diet,” Patrick Solverson, PhD , study author and an assistant professor at the Washington State University College of Medicine, told Health. Throughout the study, researchers measured participants’ fecal microbiota (the microorganisms in stool), meal tolerance testing (the amount of insulin production), and indirect calorimetry (how much energy the body is using at rest.)“Blood glucose and insulin levels […]
Could Elderberry Juice Help You Lose Weight? Here’s What the Latest Research Says
