According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in eight people on our planet suffers from obesity. A new randomized study from Washington State University reveals that drinking a large glass of elderberry juice daily for at least one week significantly enriches gut microbiota and helps combat excess weight.
What’s the secret behind the magical effects of elderberry?
The research team explained that the key lies in anthocyanins. This diverse subclass of flavonoids is currently being extensively studied for its health benefits. Scientists believe that anthocyanins play a crucial role in improving metabolism and actively combat obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases.
What did the scientists discover?
Dr. Patrick Solverson, the lead author of the study, shared, “Previously, we demonstrated that consuming 600 grams of blackberries daily for one week increases insulin sensitivity, as confirmed by a food tolerance test, and enhances fat oxidation, as evidenced by a decrease in the respiratory quotient from 24-hour indirect calorimetry.”
The team led by Dr. Solverson wanted to find out, “Do the metabolic benefits observed with other anthocyanin-rich berries also apply to elderberries?”
To investigate, the scientists examined the impact of elderberry on metabolic health in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 18 overweight adults. Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a placebo that matched the color and taste, specially developed by the Food Innovation Lab at North Carolina State University. The researchers noted that participants adhered to a standardized diet.
The results showed that participants who consumed elderberry juice experienced a significant increase in beneficial gut bacteria, including Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while harmful bacteria such as Bacteroidetes decreased.
In addition to the positive changes in microbiota, elderberry juice consumption contributed to improved metabolism, as reported by Sci.news. This beverage also helped reduce participants’ blood glucose levels by an average of 24 percent and insulin levels by 9 percent.
Furthermore, the scientists observed that elderberry juice enhanced the body’s ability to burn fat. Participants who drank this juice demonstrated significant progress in fat oxidation (or the breakdown of fatty acids) after consuming high-carbohydrate meals.
This study adds to the growing evidence that elderberry “offers numerous benefits for metabolic and prebiotic health,” noted Dr. Solverson. He explained that while other berries also contain anthocyanins, they are typically found in lower concentrations. To obtain the same dose of anthocyanins present in 170 grams of elderberry juice, one would need to consume four cups of blackberries, the scientist added.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Nutrients.