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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03410862

Evaluating The Safety And Clinical Efficacy Of Elderberry Extract In Patients With Influenza

This research is being done to determine if an extract of cooked elderberries will help decrease the duration and severity of influenza symptoms in patients with confirmed influenza. Involvement in this study requires an initial patient screening at the time of their Emergency Department visit in order to confirm eligibility for the study. Once patients have been consented and enrolled as a participant, they will be randomized to take by mouth either Elderberry Extract or a placebo (a similar appearing and tasting liquid without elderberry) for a duration of 5 days. Study information regarding medication adherence, body temperature, symptoms, severity of symptoms, and any possible side effects will be collected from daily phone surveys conducted by the study coordinator. Participation in the study will end after at least 5 days once the patient has not had a temperature above 100°F and has had no influenza symptoms for at least 24 hours, or after 21 days in the study, whichever occurs first.

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Key information

Conditions

Influenza, Human Infections Orthomyxoviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

5 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • With 48 hours or less of an influenza illness documented by polymerase chain reaction
  • Have AT LEAST 2 of the following 7 influenza symptoms (nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, aches and pains, fatigue, headaches, and chills or sweats) graded as either moderate or severe
  • Have access to a phone
  • Subjects are capable of giving informed consent or have an acceptable legally authorized representative capable of giving consent on the subject's behalf with informed assent given by subject.
  • Have been prescribed or offered a prescription for oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

Exclusion criteria

  • Known allergy to elderberry extract or oseltamivir
  • Use of antibiotic or antiviral medication on presentation to the study
  • Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding women, or do not agree to appropriate contraception (abstinence, hormonal, intrauterine device, and barrier) to prevent pregnancy during the study.
  • Patients with HIV
  • Patients with cystic fibrosis
  • Patients taking elderberry extract

Treatment and study plan

Elderberry Extract

Drug

Thick reddish-brown liquid of Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry)

Other names: Sambucol

Placebos

Drug

Thick reddish-brown liquid similar in appearance and taste to Elderberry Extract not containing elderberry

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Days Until Alleviation of Flu Symptoms Post Treatment

    Time frame: every 24 hours post study drug administration for minimum of 5 days up to 21 days

    Symptoms will be recorded using the scoring system described in a meta-analysis of "all published and unpublished Roche-sponsored randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind trials of oseltamivir treatment in adult influenza" (BMJ 4/9/2014). "The primary outcome will be time to alleviation of all symptoms. Seven influenza symptoms (nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, aches and pains, fatigue, headaches, and chills or sweats)" will be graded by severity as "none/absent" (0), "mild" (1), "moderate" (2), or "severe" (3). Alleviation will be defined to arise when all symptoms scored as absent or mild, and remain so for at least 21.5 hours."

  2. Number of Days Until Complete Resolution of All Flu Symptoms for 24 Hours

    Time frame: every 24 hours post study drug administration for minimum of 5 days up to 21 days

    Participants were called daily and asked to report on the severity of their symptoms present. Symptoms graded according to severity score (NONE/ABSENT=0 MILD=1 MODERATE=2 SEVERE=3).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

michael macknin

Other

Collaborators

  • Pharmacare Laboratories

Registry information

Official study title

Phase IV Study Evaluating The Safety And Clinical Efficacy Of Elderberry Extract In Patients With Influenza: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Jan 25, 2018
Registry last updated
Jan 19, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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