Elderberry supplementation reduces cold duration and symptoms in air travelers

Researchers at Griffith University and the Queensland University of Technology in Australia found that elderberry can help reduce the duration and symptoms of the common cold in air travelers. In their study, they looked at the effects of elderberry extract on the respiratory and mental health of people traveling by air.

• Air travelers are prone to stressors and contracting or spreading communicable diseases, including the common cold.
• Elderberries have been used as a remedy for colds and influenza infections.
• The researchers investigated whether elderberry extract can help prevent respiratory symptoms and improve the mental health of air travelers.
• For the study, they recruited 312 economy class passengers traveling from Australia to an overseas destination.
• The participants either received elderberry extract or a placebo and consumed it 10 days before their flight and continued to take it for five days after arriving at their destination.
• They also completed surveys containing questions on their cold episodes, symptoms, and duration, quality of life, and stress levels at baseline, two days before travel, and four to five days after travel.
• Results showed that participants who took the elderberry extract had fewer cold episodes than those who took the placebo.
• They also had a significantly shorter duration of cold episode days and experienced fewer cold symptoms prior to travel compared to those who took the placebo.
• The findings of the study were published in the journal Nutrients.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that taking elderberry extract may shorten the duration of a cold and reduce its symptoms.

To read more studies on natural treatments for colds like elderberry, visit NaturalCures.news.

Journal Reference:

Tiralongo E, Wee S, Lea R. ELDERBERRY SUPPLEMENTATION REDUCES COLD DURATION AND SYMPTOMS IN AIR-TRAVELLERS: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL. Nutrients. 24 March 2016; 8(4):182. DOI: 10.3390/nu8040182