Elderberry may help keep negative health effects of air travel at bay

A new study has suggested that the common elderberry can provide some relief to international air travelers.

Griffith's Menzies Health Institute Queensland (MHIQ) researchers have completed a clinical trial showing that an elderberry supplement can provide some protection from cold and flu-like symptoms following long-haul flights.

Whilst jet lag and fatigue remain the best known problems, holidaymakers also often experience upper respiratory symptoms.

Presenting their results at the 21st Annual International Integrative Medicine Conference in Melbourne, the research team showed how elderberry appears to reduce the duration and severity of the cold.

The randomised, double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted with 312 economy class passengers travelling from Australia to an overseas destination. Cold episodes, cold duration and symptoms were recorded in a daily diary and participants also completed surveys before, during and after travel.

They found that most cold episodes occurred in the placebo group, but the difference between the placebo and active group was not significant, but the placebo group had a significantly higher number of cold episode days and the symptom score in the placebo group over these days was also significantly higher, says Associate Professor Tiralongo.