A recent study reveals that regular consumption of elderberry juice can improve blood glucose tolerance, fat oxidation, and gut microbiota profile, suggesting benefits for weight management, especially in individuals with a BMI over 25 kg/m².
The study found that drinking 355 grams of elderberry juice daily led to a 24% decrease in blood glucose levels, a 10% reduction in insulin levels, and a 27% increase in fat oxidation. Additionally, participants saw improvements in gut microbiota, with a rise in beneficial Firmicutes and Actinobacteria populations and a reduction in Bacteroidetes.
Eighteen overweight adults participated in the study, divided randomly into an intervention group, which drank elderberry juice twice daily for one week, and a control group, which consumed a placebo drink with a similar flavor and color. All participants followed a 40% fat diet and completed surveys throughout the trial.
Notably, those in the intervention group showed a significant drop in respiratory quotient during moderate physical activity, indicating enhanced fat oxidation compared to the control group.
Elderberry juice is rich in anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid with health benefits for conditions linked to obesity, including dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. These findings add to the growing body of research supporting anthocyanin-rich diets, like the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes high fruit and vegetable intake and has been linked to obesity prevention.
Related Topics:
