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Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to contain bilberry. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should discuss taking herbs or supplements with their pharmacist or health care provider before starting.
Scientists have studied bilberry for the following health problems: Chronic venous insufficiency | Bilberry has been studied for a condition called chronic venous insufficiency. This term is more common in Europe than in the United States. It describes several different problems that may be caused by failure of the lower leg veins to work correctly. These problems include leg swelling (edema), pain, itching, varicose veins, breakdown of skin and skin ulcers. Although early evidence suggests that bilberry may improve blood flow in the legs, further study is needed before a recommendation can be made. | Eye diseases (retinopathy, cataracts) | Early studies suggest that bilberry may improve blood flow to the eyes and may be beneficial in treating disorders of the retina. Other studies report that bilberry may slow the progression of cataracts. However, these studies have been small and poor quality. Further studies are needed before a recommendation can be made. | Night vision | Historically, bilberry has been thought to improve night vision. However, recent studies in humans report that bilberry has no effect on night vision. At this time, bilberry cannot be recommended for this use. | Atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease | Bilberry has been used traditionally to treat symptoms of vascular disease, including coronary artery disease. However, there is limited human study in this area. | Diabetes mellitus | Bilberry is a traditional therapy used in the treatment of diabetes. Tea made from the leaves of bilberry is often used for this indication. Limited animal data suggest that bilberry leaf extract possesses hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering properties that may be beneficial in diabetes. | Diarrhea | Treatment of diarrhea is a popular use of bilberry products, however, high quality human studies are lacking. | Peptic ulcer disease | There is not enough human evidence to recommend for or against this use of bilberry. It should be noted that the bacteria H. pylori has been implicated in many cases of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and testing and/or treatment forH. pylori should be considered in patients with known or suspected peptic ulcer disease. | Other | Early evidence suggests that bilberry may reduce menstrual cramps and may improve fibrocystic diseases of the breast. However, these studies have been small and low quality. |
Bilberry has been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care provider before using bilberry for any unproven use. Age-related macular degeneration
Angina
Angiogenesis
Antifungal
Antimicrobial
Antioxidant
Antiseptic
Antiviral
Arthritis
Astringent
Bleeding gums
Blood in the urine
Cancer
Cardiovascular disease
Chemoprotectant
Chest pain
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Claudication (peripheral vascular disease)
Colds
Cough
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Digestive disorders
Dysentery
Edema
Fever
Gout | Heart disease
Hemorrhoids
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Infantile dyspepsia
Inflammation of the retina
Kidney disease
Lactation suppression
Laxative (fresh berries)
Leukemia
Liver disease
Macular degeneration
Mouth ulcers
Nearsightedness
Pharyngitis
Poor circulation
Skin irritation or infection
Sore throat
Stomach ulcers
Stomach upset
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tonic
Urinary tract infections
Varicose veins
Vision improvement
Vitamin C deficiency
Wound healing |
Allergies People with allergies to plants in the Ericaceae family or to anthocyanosides may be allergic to bilberry. Side Effects Few side effects have been reported when bilberry is used at recommended doses. Safety is often assumed because bilberry has historically been used as a food source and has appeared to be safe. Side effects based on effects seen in animals include decreased blood sugar levels, decreased blood pressure and an increased risk of bleeding. If you take drugs to control diabetes or to lower blood pressure and are considering using bilberry, discuss this with your health care provider. Because bilberry may increase the risk of bleeding, you may need to stop taking it before some surgeries; discuss this with your health care provider. Fresh bilberry fruit may have a laxative effect. When bilberry is used for treating diarrhea, only dried bilberry should be taken. Pregnancy And Breast-Feeding Bilberry is assumed to be safe because it is used as a food product, but it has not been studied for safety in pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Interactions with drugs, supplements and other herbs have not been thoroughly studied. The interactions listed below have been reported in scientific publications. If you are taking prescription drugs, speak with your health care provider or pharmacist before using herbs or dietary supplements. Interactions With Drugs In theory, bilberry may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulants (blood thinners) or antiplatelet drugs. Examples include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin and clopidogrel (Plavix). Some pain relievers may also increase the risk of bleeding if used with bilberry. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox). Bilberry may also lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised if you are also taking drugs that may lower blood sugar levels. Patients taking oral drugs for diabetes or using insulin should be monitored closely by their health care provider while using bilberry. Dosing adjustments may be necessary. Antibiotics, antidiarrheals, blood pressure drugs, estrogens, cancer drugs, ulcer drugs and drugs that may damage the liver may also interact with bilberry. Interactions With Herbs And Dietary Supplements In theory, bilberry may increase the risk of bleeding when also taken with other products that are believed to increase the risk of bleeding. Examples include Ginkgo biloba and garlic ( Allium sativum). Bilberry may also lower blood sugar levels. People using other herbs or supplements that may alter blood sugar levels, such as bitter melon ( Momordica charantia), should be monitored closely by their health care provider while using bilberry. Dosing adjustments may be necessary. Berries seem to be a good source of bioavailable quercetin, and therefore additive effects may be seen when taken together. In one study, which involved cooking bilberries with water and sugar to make soup, 40 percent of the quercetin was lost. Berries also contain resveratrol which has been studied as an antioxidant, for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antibacterials, antidiarrheals, antineoplastics, antiulcer agents, herbs and supplements that may damage the liver, that alter blood pressure or contain phystoestrogens and vitamin C may interact with bilberry.
The doses listed below are based on scientific research, publications or traditional use. Because most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly studied or monitored, safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients even within the same brand. Combination products often contain small amounts of each ingredient and may not be effective. Appropriate dosing should be discussed with a health care provider before starting therapy; always read the recommendations on a product's label. The dosing for unproven uses should be approached cautiously, because scientific information is limited in these areas. In most European studies, bilberry products have been standardized to contain 25 percent anthocyanidin, but preparations available in the United States may differ. For Chronic Venous Insufficiency And Eye Diseases Adults (Aged 18 Or Older) Extract: A dose of 80 to 480 milligrams daily, divided in two or three doses, has been taken by mouth. General Doses recommended by some experts based on traditional use are: fresh berries 55-115g three times daily, or 80-160mg of aqueous extract three times daily (standardized to 25% anthocyanosides). Acute diarrhea Some herbalists caution that for the treatment of diarrhea, only preparations of dried bilberry should be used, as the fresh fruit may actually exert a laxative effect. Topical: For mucus membrane inflammation, some herbalists recommend gargling with a mouthwash of 10% dried fruit decoction as needed. Children (Younger Than 18) The dosing and safety of bilberry have not been studied thoroughly in children, and therefore bilberry is not recommended. Other For various health conditions, doses based on tradition include 55 to 115 grams of fresh berries taken three times per day by mouth or 80 to 160 milligrams of extract taken three times per day by mouth.
Although bilberry has been suggested for many conditions, it has not been proven for the treatment of any health condition. Bilberry appears to be safe, but if you have diabetes or high blood pressure or are prone to bleeding disorders or have cancer, you need to discuss this with your health care provider before using bilberry. Consult your health care provider immediately if you experience side effects. Many interactions are possible and therapies should be closely monitored. The information in this monograph was prepared by the professional staff at Natural Standard, based on thorough systematic review of scientific evidence. The material was reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School with final editing approved by Natural Standard.
- Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research
Selected Scientific Studies: Bilberry Natural Standard has reviewed all of the currently available medical literature to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created. Some of the more recent studies are listed below: - Canter PH, Ernst E. Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision: a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. Surv Ophthalmol 2004;49(1):38-50.
- Choi EH, Ok HE, Yoon Y, Magnuson BA, Kim MK, Chun HS. Protective effect of anthocyanin-rich extract from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) against myelotoxicity induced by 5-fluorouracil. Biofactors. 2007;29(1):55-65.
- Erlund I, Marniemi J, Hakala P, et al. Consumption of black currants, lingonberries and bilberries increases serum quercetin concentrations. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;Jan, 57(1):37-42.
- Head KA. Natural therapies for ocular disorders, part two: cataracts and glaucoma. Altern Med Rev 2001;6(2):141-166.
- Hou DX. Potential mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention by anthocyanins. Curr Mol Med 2003;Mar, 3(2):149-159. Review.
- Kramer JH. Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision: a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. Surv Ophthalmol 2004;49(6):618.
- Logan AC, Wong C. Chronic fatigue syndrome: oxidative stress and dietary modifications. Altern Med Rev 2001;6(5):450-459.
- Lyons MM, Yu C, Toma RB, et al. Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51(20):5867-5870.
- Muth ER, Laurent JM, Jasper P. The effect of bilberry nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Altern Med Rev 2000;5(2):164-173.
- Zafra-Stone S, Yasmin T, Bagchi M, Chatterjee A, Vinson JA, Bagchi D. Berry anthocyanins as novel antioxidants in human health and disease prevention. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jun;51(6):675-83. Review.
Last updated September 03, 2008
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