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Elderberry for women: what studies in women found

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

No trial has tested elderberry for a benefit specific to women. A 12-week trial gave 52 healthy postmenopausal women an extract with 500 mg of anthocyanins a day and found no change in the blood markers measured. Its safety in pregnancy is unknown, and experts advise against it then.1,2

Key facts

  • Liver and kidney blood tests stayed within normal ranges over those 12 weeks.1
  • In four older women, 0.077% of the anthocyanins from 12 g of extract appeared in urine within 4 hours.3
  • There are no data on elderberry for nursing mothers or infants.4
  • A 2014 review found no animal or human studies of elderberry's safety in pregnancy.5

The 12-week trial in postmenopausal women

In 52 healthy postmenopausal women, an elderberry extract supplying 500 mg of anthocyanins a day for 12 weeks did not change the heart-related blood markers or the immune signalling proteins measured, compared with placebo.1,6

The women were about 58 years old and took two capsules twice a day. The markers included blood fats, platelet activity and immune signalling proteins, and the trial also checked liver and kidney function. The elderberry and placebo groups ended up alike.1,6

After elderberry, breakdown products of anthocyanins reached blood levels about 36 times higher than the anthocyanins themselves, and 12 weeks of intake did not change this pattern.7

How much women absorbed

Only a small share of elderberry anthocyanins is absorbed intact. In four older women given 720 mg of them in an extract, 0.077% appeared in urine within 4 hours.3

Both absorption studies in women were in older women, so they say little about younger women, and neither measured an outcome a person would notice.3,7

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

NIH says the safety of elderberry in pregnancy is not known and that experts recommend against elderberry supplements for pregnant women.2

The European Medicines Agency stopped work on a monograph for elderberries in 2013 because there was not enough information on their traditional use.5

The 2014 review that reported this also found no animal or human safety studies of elderberry in pregnancy, and noted that the agency does not recommend the berries in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.5

For breastfeeding, LactMed, the NIH database on medicines and nursing, has no data on elderberry for mothers or infants and makes no recommendation for medicinal doses.4

Other cautions

Elderberry might affect insulin and blood sugar levels, so experts advise people with diabetes to use it with caution.2,8

Ask your pharmacist or doctor first

Because elderberry may stimulate the immune system, NIH says it might reduce the effect of medicines that suppress the immune system.2,8

Expected from how the two work, not shown in studies

Never eat raw or unripe berries, or the leaves and stems, which can cause nausea and vomiting.9

What's in ours

What’s in ours

  • Immune Support: Elderberry Extract, 500 mg per serving, from the label

Questions people ask

Is elderberry good for women?

No study has found a benefit for women in particular. The 12-week trial in women found no change in the blood markers it measured.1

Can I take elderberry while pregnant?

Experts advise against elderberry supplements in pregnancy because their safety has not been studied. Ask your doctor or midwife before using any elderberry product.2,5

Can I take elderberry while breastfeeding?

There are no data on how elderberry affects nursing mothers or infants, so no recommendation can be made. Ask your doctor first.4

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Sources

  1. Curtis PJ, Kroon PA, Hollands WJ, Walls R, Jenkins G, Kay CD, Cassidy A. Cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers and liver and kidney function are not altered in postmenopausal women after ingesting an elderberry extract rich in anthocyanins for 12 weeks. J Nutr. 2009;139(12):2266-2271. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated March 10, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. Wu X, Cao G, Prior RL. Absorption and metabolism of anthocyanins in elderly women after consumption of elderberry or blueberry. J Nutr. 2002;132(7):1865-1871. Opened 2026-10-07.
  4. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Elderberry. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; updated April 15, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  5. Holst L, Havnen GC, Nordeng H. Echinacea and elderberry-should they be used against upper respiratory tract infections during pregnancy? Front Pharmacol. 2014;5:31. Opened 2026-10-07.
  6. 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;21(1):112. Opened 2026-10-01.
  7. de Ferrars RM, Cassidy A, Curtis P, Kay CD. Phenolic metabolites of anthocyanins following a dietary intervention study in post-menopausal women. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014;58(3):490-502. Opened 2026-10-07.
  8. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases: Fact Sheet for Consumers. Updated March 10, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  9. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Elderberry. Last updated November 2024. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.