Human studies have shown that black elderberry, zinc and vitamin C, taken at the first signs of a cold or flu, can activate the body's immune system and shorten the duration and severity of illness.
Recommended dosages based on studies are:
Zinc 75mg/day in the form of zinc acetate lozenges
Vitamin C 1000mg/day
Black Elderberry extract 600mg
Studies referenced in Life Extension Magazine:
1. Fujihashi K, Kiyono H. Mucosal immunosenescence: new developments and vaccines to control infectious diseases. Trends Immunol. 2009 Jul;30(7):334-43.
2. Montecino-Rodriguez E, Berent-Maoz B, Dorshkind K. Causes, con- sequences, and reversal of immune system aging. J Clin Invest. 2013 Mar;123(3):958-65.
3. Hemila H, Chalker E. The effectiveness of high dose zinc acetate loz- enges on various common cold symptoms: a meta-analysis. BMC Fam Pract. 2015 Feb 25;16:24.
4. Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, et al. Randomized study of the ef- ficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40.
5. Wieland LS, Piechotta V, Feinberg T, et al. Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Apr 7;21(1):112.
6. Hemila H. Vitamin C and Infections. Nutrients. 2017 Mar 29;9(4).
7. Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/flu-and-colds-in-depth#.
Accessed October 17, 2022,
8. Bucher A, White N. Vitamin C in the Prevention and Treatment of the
Common Cold. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 May-Jun;10(3):181-3.
9. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm. Accessed
November, 9, 2022.
10. Douglas RM, Chalker EB, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating
the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000 (2):CD000980.
11. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.
htm#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20flu%20antiviral,hospital%20 with%20more%20severe%20illness. Accessed November 15, 2022.
12. Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, et al. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta- analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019 Feb;42:361-5.
13. Strugala P, Loi S, Bazanow B, et al. A Comprehensive Study on the Biological Activity of Elderberry Extract and Cyanidin 3-O-Glucoside and Their Interactions with Membranes and Human Serum Albumin. Molecules. 2018 Oct 8;23(10):2566.
14. Roschek B, Jr., Fink RC, McMichael MD, et al. Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro. Phytochemistry. 2009 Jul;70(10):1255-61.
15. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-history.htm. Accessed 10/18/2022, 16. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/zinc. Accessed
October 17, 2022.
17. Barnett JB, Hamer DH, Meydani SN. Low zinc status: a new risk factor
for pneumonia in the elderly? Nutr Rev. 2010 Jan;68(1):30-7.
18. Available at: https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/news/ex_013113.
shtml. Accessed September 30, 2022.
19. Putics A, Vodros D, Malavolta M, et al. Zinc supplementation boosts the
stress response in the elderly: Hsp70 status is linked to zinc availability in
peripheral lymphocytes. Exp Gerontol. 2008 May;43(5):452-61.
20. Hirt M, Nobel S, Barron E. Zinc nasal gel for the treatment of common
cold symptoms: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ear Nose Throat
J. 2000 Oct;79(10):778-80, 82.
21. Huijskens MJ, Walczak M, Koller N, et al. Technical advance: ascorbic
acid induces development of double-positive T cells from human hema- topoietic stem cells in the absence of stromal cells. J Leukoc Biol. 2014 Dec;96(6):1165-75.
22. Huijskens MJ, Walczak M, Sarkar S, et al. Ascorbic acid promotes prolif- eration of natural killer cell populations in culture systems applicable for natural killer cell therapy. Cytotherapy. 2015 May;17(5):613-20.
23. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C. Accessed October 17, 2022.
24. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11).
25. Hemila H, Louhiala P. Vitamin C for preventing and treating pneumonia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Aug 8(8):CD005532.
26. Ran L, Zhao W, Wang J, et al. Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:1837634.
27. Van Straten M, Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2002 May-Jun;19(3):151-9.
28. Sasazuki S, Sasaki S, Tsubono Y, et al. Effect of vitamin C on common cold: randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jan;60(1):9-17.
29. Kim TK, Lim HR, Byun JS. Vitamin C supplementation reduces the odds of developing a common cold in Republic of Korea Army recruits: randomised controlled trial. BMJ Mil Health. 2022 Apr;168(2):117-23.
30. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfes-sional/. Accessed November 11, 2022.
31. Maggini S, Beveridge S, Suter M. A combination of high-dose vitamin C plus zinc for the common cold. J Int Med Res. 2012;40(1):28-42.
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