Elderberry Extract vs Elderberry Syrup
How elderberry extract and elderberry syrup differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Standardized Extract (Capsules or Lozenges) | Elderberry Syrup or Liquid Extract | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Variable | Variable |
| How it is absorbed | Dried berry extract, typically standardized to anthocyanin content. | Concentrated berry juice extract; anthocyanins are absorbed in small amounts and act mainly in the first hours after a dose. |
| Typical dose | 300-900 mg daily | 15 mL up to four times daily for 3-5 days |
| Common uses | colds, air travel | colds and influenza at onset |
| Side effects | GI upset. | GI upset; syrups carry significant sugar. |
| Cost | Moderate | Moderate |
| Also called | elderberry extract | Sambucol, black elderberry syrup |
When to Choose Standardized Extract (Capsules or Lozenges)
Choose elderberry extract when you want a measured, sugar-free dose. The air-travel trial used capsules of this type.
Standardized Extract (Capsules or Lozenges)
A sugar-free option with a measurable dose, as in the travel trial.
What to look for: Extract amount and anthocyanin content per capsule stated, 300-900 mg daily for short courses.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Elderberry Syrup or Liquid Extract
Choose elderberry syrup when you want the form used in the early influenza trials. The form used in the positive influenza trials.
Elderberry Syrup or Liquid Extract
The form behind the positive influenza trials and the negative large one.
What to look for: Standardized Sambucus nigra syrup; 15 mL up to four times a day for a few days.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
1,826 of the 214,745 labels in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database list elderberry as an active ingredient (1,008 on market). 1,037 are sold as elderberry products by name.
Elderberry does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.
Related
References
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. European Elder.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Poisoning from elderberry juice: California. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1984;33(13):173-174.
Barak V, Halperin T, Kalickman I. The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2001;12(2):290-296.
Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, Wadstein J. Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004;32(2):132-140.
Tiralongo E, Wee SS, Lea RA. Elderberry supplementation reduces cold duration and symptoms in air-travellers: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutrients. 2016;8(4):182.
Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne E. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019;42:361-365.
Macknin M, Wolski K, Negrey J, Mace S. Elderberry extract outpatient influenza treatment for emergency room patients ages 5 and above: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2020;35(11):3271-3277.