Ashley F Curtis, Madison Musich, Amy N Costa, Joshua Gonzales, Hyeri Gonzales, Bradley J Ferguson, Briana Kille, Andrew L Thomas, Xing Wei, Pei Liu, C Michael Greenlief, Joel I Shenker, David Q Beversdorf
Journal: International journal of molecular sciences 2024;25(8):4352
PMID: 38673938
Degenerative disease of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are characterised by cellular death within specific regions of the brain. Anthocyanins, which are naturally occurring anti-inflammatory pigments found in plants, have been shown to cross into the brain and may provide some benefit. Elderberry is one of the richest sources of anthocyanins, and contains a high concentration of vitamins compared to other berries with similar chemical compositions. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of an American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) juice intervention (three times daily for six months) on brain function and inflammatory markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to either an elderberry juice intervention group or a placebo control group, consuming 5 mL of juice three times daily for six months. Results showed that the elderberry intervention was well tolerated. While cognitive benefits were limited, there was a trend toward improvements in the ability to to adapt and flexibly process visual and spatial information in the elderberry group at six months compared to the placebo. Additionally, elderberry juice appeared to reduce low-grade inflammation based on blood-based inflammatory markers. Authors concluded that their findings support further large-scale studies with extended follow-ups to better explore elderberry’s potential role in reducing inflammation and preserving brain function.
Despite data showing that nutritional interventions high in antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties (anthocyanin-rich foods, such as blueberries/elderberries) may decrease risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, evidence for such effects in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is limited. This study examined preliminary effects of American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) juice on cognition and inflammatory markers in patients with MCI. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with MCI ( = 24, = 76.33 ± 6.95) received American elderberry ( = 11) or placebo ( = 13) juice (5 mL orally 3 times a day) for 6 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, patients completed tasks measuring global cognition, verbal memory, language, visuospatial cognitive flexibility/problem solving, and memory. A subsample ( = 12, 7 elderberry/5 placebo) provided blood samples to measure serum inflammatory markers. Multilevel models examined effects of the condition (elderberry/placebo), time (baseline/3 months/6 months), and condition by time interactions on cognition/inflammation outcomes. Attrition rates for elderberry (18%) and placebo (15%) conditions were fairly low. The dosage compliance (elderberry-97%; placebo-97%) and completion of cognitive (elderberry-88%; placebo-87%) and blood-based (elderberry-100%; placebo-100%) assessments was high. Elderberry (not placebo) trended ( = 0.09) towards faster visuospatial problem solving performance from baseline to 6 months. For the elderberry condition, there were significant or significantly trending decreases over time across several markers of low-grade peripheral inflammation, including vasorin, prenylcysteine oxidase 1, and complement Factor D. Only one inflammatory marker showed an increase over time (alpha-2-macroglobin). In contrast, for the placebo, several inflammatory marker levels increased across time (L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain, complement Factor D), with one showing deceased levels over time (L-lactate dehydrogenase A chain). Daily elderberry juice consumption in patients with MCI is feasible and well tolerated and may provide some benefit to visuospatial cognitive flexibility. Preliminary findings suggest elderberry juice may reduce low-grade inflammation compared to a placebo-control. These promising findings support the need for larger, more definitive prospective studies with longer follow-ups to better understand mechanisms of action and the clinical utility of elderberries for potentially mitigating cognitive decline.
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