New SHIME study adds mechanistic depth to the microbiome evidence behind ElderCraft®
Microbiome science is moving fast and ingredient innovation must keep pace. For brands developing next-generation gut health concepts, evidence is no longer just about showing an effect. It is about understanding how and why an ingredient interacts with the gut ecosystem.
A new SHIME study conducted by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano provides further scientific support for ElderCraft®, ipronas standardized European Black Elderberry extract. By investigating its effects in two simulated human gut ecosystems, the study adds valuable mechanistic insight to the growing body of microbiome research behind ElderCraft®.
For nutraceutical and functional ingredient developers, these findings mark an important step forward. ElderCraft® is not only a differentiated botanical ingredient rooted in the heritage of European Black Elderberry, it is increasingly supported by a scientific platform relevant to modern microbiome-focused formulations.
In the SHIME model, ElderCraft® demonstrated significant, donor-dependent modulation of the gut microbiome. The study showed several potentially beneficial microbial shifts and also assessed short-chain fatty acids, indicating that ElderCraft® interacts not only with microbial composition, but also with gut ecosystem function.
This donor-dependent response is particularly relevant in today’s nutrition landscape. As interest in precision nutrition and individualized microbiome support continues to grow, the findings highlight an important reality: microbiome modulation is rarely one-size-fits-all.
The new SHIME results are especially meaningful when viewed alongside the earlier ELDERGUT human study. In this 9-week intervention, healthy adults consumed 300 mg of elderberry extract twice daily. Supplementation was well tolerated and resulted in highly individualized microbiome trajectories, pronounced shifts in diversity measures, and changes in species abundance over time. Notably, the relative abundance of Akkermansia spp. continued to increase in a subset of participants even beyond the supplementation period.
Together, the ELDERGUT human study and the new SHIME data create a stronger scientific story for ElderCraft®. While ELDERGUT provided evidence of prebiotic properties in healthy individuals, the SHIME study adds mechanistic depth by showing ecological responses that may help explain the individualized nature of microbiome modulation.
For brands seeking differentiated, evidence-backed botanicals, ElderCraft® now offers an even more compelling innovation platform: the traditional value of European Black Elderberry combined with modern microbiome science.
Interested in developing microbiome-focused nutraceuticals with ElderCraft®? Contact us to learn more about the science behind this unique black elderberry ingredient.