Does elderberry cause a cytokine storm to be produced?
Cytokines are produced by the immune system when it is under attack from viruses and pathogens. Cytokines signal immune cells to travel to the site of attack or infection. This is a normal body process that is kept under control by a feedback loop. Sometimes this process can become uncontrolled and too many immune cells are stimulated in a single place. This is often referred to as a cytokine storm. Cytokine storms can cause significant tissue and organ damage. There is no evidence in the literature to indicate that elderberry extract causes cytokine storms. We recommend that Sambucol products, which contain elderberry extract be used only for the indications on the product labelling.
