Elderberry and colds
What 2 graded rows on elderberry agree on for colds, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Elderberry page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Elderberry page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Elderberry and colds
2 rows · 624 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement and 1 found no difference.
- CGrade C× 1
- DGrade D× 1
- Rows
- 2
- Trials
- 2
- People
- 624
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 312 people (2016) and found no difference.
The best grade is C among the row that found no difference, and D among the row that found an improvement.
The rows
1 improved · 1 no difference- DGrade DCold duration and severity · Improved
RCT · n 312 · 2016 · Economy-class passengers flying from Australia overseas
600–900 mg/day · About 2 weeks
Total cold days were 57 with elderberry vs 117 with placebo (p=0.02), and average symptom scores over those days were lower (247 vs 583, p=0.05).
- CGrade CCatching a cold during long-haul air travel · No difference
RCT · n 312 · 2016 · Economy-class passengers flying from Australia overseas
600 mg/day before travel, 900 mg/day while travelling · About 2 weeks (10 days before to 4–5 days after arrival)
Cold episodes were 12 with elderberry vs 17 with placebo, not a significant difference (p=0.4).