A recent study found that drinking Elderberry juice daily can lead to positive changes in gut bacteria, improve metabolism for weight management, and reduce blood glucose levels by 24%.
The study was conducted by researchers from Washington State University in the United States, and was published in the journal Nutrients, and the Independent wrote about it. Elderberry is a dark purple berry.
The researchers found that drinking about 350 milliliters of elderberry juice daily for a week can be an effective tool to change the microbes that live in the intestines, and improve the body’s tolerance for glucose and fat oxidation.
Patrick Solverson, one of the study’s co-authors, said: “Elderberry is a berry that is commercially and nutritionally underappreciated. We are now beginning to realize its value to human health, and the results are very exciting.”
The trial examined the effects of elderberries on 18 overweight adults.
Beneficial intestinal microbes
Participants consumed either elderberry juice or a placebo similar in taste and color.
The researchers found that participants who consumed elderberry juice had significantly increased amounts of beneficial gut microbes, including groups of bacteria such as Firmicutes and Actinobacteria.
They said the juice also appears to reduce amounts of harmful bacteria such as bacillus bacteria.
They found that the microbial changes caused by elderberry intervention also improve metabolism.
Previous studies have shown that a healthy gut microbiome is key to optimal nutrient absorption.
The new study revealed that elderberry juice reduces blood glucose levels in participants by about 24%, indicating that it can significantly improve the body’s ability to process sugars after consuming carbohydrates.
Participants who drank the juice showed a 9% decrease in insulin levels.
Anthocyanins
The researchers also found that fat oxidation, or fatty acid decomposition, after eating a carbohydrate-rich meal and during exercise, was significantly elevated among those who drank the juice.
This may be due to the fruit’s high concentration of anthocyanins, which are plant-based bioactive compounds with known anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial effects, scientists say.
Other types of berries also contain anthocyanins, but this is usually in lower concentrations. For example, a person must consume 4 cups of blackberries daily to achieve the same dose of anthocyanins found in 175 milliliters of elderberry juice.
“This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that elderberry, which has been used as a folk remedy for centuries, has numerous benefits for metabolic as well as vital health,” Dr Solverson said.
Researchers hope to test the effects of berries in larger, longer-term trials, and to adequately investigate their benefits for both genders and in different age groups.
“Our results confirm the bioactivity of anthocyanins from elderberry on findings related to gut health and obesity. A follow-up investigation is needed to confirm our findings and test them over longer periods,” the researchers wrote.