Bilberry is a small shrub found on heaths where it grows to about 60 centimeters tall. You will find many eye formulas that contain bilberry, including Eyesight Rx. Bilberry herb has more than a dozen anthocyanosides for eye health. For more bilberry information.
Bilberry side effects
No major bilberry side effects have been reported in
the medical literature. One cannot imagine any serious side effect eating
bilberry jam or drinking bilberry juice. However, since bilberry extract
supplements have only been available for a few years, we don't know if high
doses of bilberry extract cause side effects in the long term. To minimize any
potential bilberry side effects, take a day or two off each week from your
bilberry product use.
Bilberry dose
It is not clear at this time what the ideal bilberry dose would be. For
the time being, a dose of 10 to 100 mg of a 100:1 bilberry extract comprised of
25% anthocyanosides a few times a week should suffice.
Bilberry Extract, 80 mg, 60
Capsules
Bilberry Extract, also referred to as blueberry, is a potent extract yielding
key bioflavonoids and antioxidants called anthocyanosides, anthocyanins,
ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins. A controlled extraction process
guarantees at least 25% anthocyanosides.
Bilberry Supplement Facts:
Bilberry Fruit Standardized Extract - 80 mg*(Vaccinium myrtillus) Yielding 20 mg anthocyanosides
Suggested Use: 1 bilberry capsule a few times a week, or as recommended by your health
care professional.
* Bilberry daily value not established.
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Formulas
Eyesight Rx with Bilberry extract
Supports Healthy Vision
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Citrus bioflavonoids (eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones,
flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed
Carotenoids (astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin,
Lutein,
Lycopene,
Zeaxanthin)
Bilberry
extract (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Eyebright
extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo
biloba
(Ginkgo biloba)
Suma extract (Pfaffia paniculata)
Mucuna pruriens
extract (Cowhage)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Lycium berry extract (Lycium Barbarum)
- also known as Goji Berry
Sarsaparila (Sarsaparilla Smilax)
Alpha-Lipoic acid
Click the link above in blue for Bilberry to order Eyesight Rx or to find out more about hundreds
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Bilberry jam - Bilbbery Juice
Bilbery jam is a healthy way to improve your
eyesight,
however there is a concern of too much sugar being added to bllberry jam.
Bilberry juice is often mixed with other fruit juices.
Bilberry vitamin content
Bilberry has vitamin A and Vitamin C along with many beneficial flavonoids.
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Bilberry and Anthocyanidins and antioxidant
influence
Anthocyanosides are the pharmacologically active constituents of
bilberries. They consist of a backbone known as anthocyanidin which is
bound to one of three sugars: arabinose, glucose, or galactose. Five
different anthocyanidins in bilberry produce more than fifteen different
anthocyanosides. The fresh fruit contains an anthocyanoside concentration
of 0.1 to 0.25 percent. A concentrated bilberry extract however yields 25%
anthocyanidin content, which corresponds to about 38% anthocyanosides.
Anthocyanins and other phenolics from bilberry upregulate oxidative
stress defense enzymes.
Inhibition of protein and lipid oxidation in liposomes by berry phenolics.
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 1;52(24):7419-24.
The antioxidant activity of berry phenolics such as anthocyanins,
ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins from raspberry (Rubus idaeus), bilberry (Vaccinium
myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and black currant (Ribes nigrum)
was investigated. The antioxidant protection toward lipid oxidation was best
provided by lingonberry and bilberry phenolics followed by black currant and
raspberry phenolics. Bilberry and raspberry phenolics exhibited the best overall
antioxidant activity toward protein oxidation. Proanthocyanidins, especially the
dimeric and trimeric forms, in lingonberries were among the most active phenolic
constituents toward both lipid and protein oxidation. In bilberries and black
currants, anthocyanins contributed the most to the antioxidant effect by
inhibiting the formation of both hexanal and protein carbonyls. In raspberries,
ellagitannins were responsible for the antioxidant activity. While the
antioxidant effect of berry proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins was
dose-dependent, ellagitannins appeared to be equally active at all
concentrations. In conclusion, berries are rich in monomeric and polymeric
phenolic compounds providing protection toward both lipid and protein oxidation.
Comparison of HPLC methods for determination of anthocyanins and
anthocyanidins in bilberry extracts.
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Feb 25;52(4):688-91.
An HPLC method and an acid hydrolysis HPLC method for the analysis of
anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in bilberry extracts have been developed. The
HPLC method coupled with a mass detector has identified 11 anthocyanins in
bilberry extracts. The method provides anthocyanin profiles that are very useful
in verifying the identity of botanical raw materials, monitoring the consistency
of the raw material source, and quantitating the total anthocyanins. The acid
hydrolysis HPLC method greatly simplifies the anthocyanin profile in bilberry
samples and converts anthocyanins to five major anthocyanidin aglycones:
delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin. Each of these
aglycones can be separated completely and quantitated accurately with external
standards.
Complete assignment of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) anthocyanins
separated by capillary zone electrophoresis.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2004 Feb;52(2):226-9.
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) mobilities of fifteen anthocyanins in
bilberry extract were completely characterized. Four minor anthocyanins in
bilberry extract (malvidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (Mv 3-ara), peonidin
3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (Pn 3-gal), peonidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside
(Pn 3-ara), and petunidin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (Pt 3-ara)) that
remained unidentified in our previous CZE study were isolated from the bilberry
extract,
Bilberry herb and cancer
prevention
Anthocyanin-rich extracts inhibit multiple biomarkers of colon cancer in
rats.
Nutr Cancer. 2006;54(1):84-93. Lala G, Malik M, Zhao C, He J, Kwon Y, Giusti
MM, Magnuson BA. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of
Maryland, College Park 20742, USA.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the activity of anthocyanin-rich
extracts from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), chokeberry (Aronia meloncarpa
E.), and grape (Vitis vinifera) by assessing multiple biomarkers of colon cancer
in male rats treated with a colon carcinogen, azoxymethane. The results support
previous in vitro studies suggesting a protective role of berry extracts in
colon carcinogenesis and indicate multiple mechanisms of action.
Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and
the anthocyanins.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Jan 1;51(1):68-75.
Among ethanol extracts of 10 edible berries, bilberry extract was found to be
the most effective at inhibiting the growth of HL60 human leukemia cells and
HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells in vitro. Bilberry extract induced apoptotic
cell bodies and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in HL60 cells. The proportion of
apoptotic cells induced by bilberry extract in HCT116 was much lower than that
in HL60 cells, and DNA fragmentation was not induced in the former. Of the
extracts tested, that from bilberry contained the largest amounts of phenolic
compounds, including anthocyanins, and showed the greatest
1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Pure
delphinidin and malvidin, like the glycosides isolated from the bilberry
extract, induced apoptosis in HL60 cells. These results indicate that the
bilberry extract and the anthocyanins, bearing delphinidin or malvidin as the
aglycon, inhibit the growth of HL60 cells through the induction of apoptosis.
Only pure delphinidin and the glycoside isolated from the bilberry extract, but
not malvidin and the glycoside, inhibited the growth of HCT116 cells.
Bilberry Herb and macular
degeneration
Dietary supplementation with bilberry extract prevents macular
degeneration and cataracts in senesce-accelerated OXYS rats.
Fursova AZh, Gesarevich OG, Gonchar AM, Trofimova NA, Kolosova NG.
Adv Gerontol. 2005;16:76-9.
Cataracts and macular degeneration remain the major cause of blindness
and acuity of vision deterioration in the elderly. Both pathology have
been attributed to damage by free radicals, there has been a great deal of
interest in antioxidants. Bilberry's flavonoids are known as potent
antioxidants, scavenging free radicals and used for multiple age-releted
ocular disorders. There are no experimental studies, devoted to estimation
of bilberry effect. To explore this one the senescence-accelerated OXYS
rats with early senile cataract and macular degeneration were used. From
1.5 to 3 month OXYS rats were given control diets or those supplemented
with 25% bilberry extract (BE, 20 mg on kg of body weight including 4.5 mg
of antocianidin) or vitamin E (40 mg/kg) for comparison. The
testing at 3 month showed that more then 70% of control OXYS rats had
cataract and macular degeneration while the supplementation of bilberry
extract
completely prevented impairments in the lenses and retina. The VE had no
significant effects but both antioxidants decreased lipid peroxides in the
retina and serum of OXYS rats. The results suggest that long-term supplementation with bilberry extract is effective in
prevention of macular degeneration and cataract.
Bilberry anthocyanins and
memory
Effect of lyophilised Vaccinium ( bilberry ) berries on memory,
anxiety and locomotion in adult rats.
Pharmacol Res. 2005 Aug 9; [
Epidemiological studies suggest that diets with a high intake of
vegetables and fruits may reduce the incidence of degenerative disorders
including Alzheimer's disease. Berries are some of the popular fruits
consumed worldwide. They are considered to be rich in anthocyanin
pigments, a group belonging to the flavonoids, a widespread class of
phenolic compounds. Anthocyanins have notorious pharmacological
properties, and have been used in humans for therapeutic purposes. The
present experiments were performed to study the possible effects of
prolonged administration of lyophilised Vaccinium berries (blueberry,
bilberry) on cognitive performance using step-down inhibitory avoidance,
open field, elevated plus-maze, and radial maze tasks. During this
experiment the rats consumed approximately 3.2mgkg(-1)day (oral), of the
anthocyanins. The lyophilised bilberries were administered for 30 days
before first training. The present study showed that a lyophilised
bilberry significantly enhanced short-term memory, but not long-term
memory in the inhibitory avoidance task, and induced an increase in the
number of crossings in the first exposure to the open field. However,
treated rats did not present any improvement of memory retention in open
field habituation. Additionally, prolonged treatment with lyophilised
bilberries did not have any significant effects in the elevated plus-maze
task. Another interesting finding was that lyophilised bilberries improved
working memory in the radial maze, with significant differences observed
during sessions 1-2 and 4, but did not alter reference memory in this
task. These results suggest that lyophilised bilberries may be beneficial
in the prevention of memory deficits, one of the symptoms related to
alzheimers disease, and corroborate previous findings showing that
flavonoids present effects in several learning paradigms.
Bilberry and vision
Dietary supplementation with bilberry extract prevents macular degeneration and
cataracts in senesce-accelerated OXYS rats
Adv Gerontol. 2005;16:76-9. Fursova AZh, Gesarevich OG, Gonchar AM,
Trofimova NA, Kolosova NG.
Bilberry flavonoids are known as potent antioxidants, scavenging free
radicals and used for multiple age-releted ocular disorders.
Senescence-accelerated rats with early senile cataract and macular degeneration
were used. From 1.5 to 3 month rats were given control diets or those
supplemented with 25% bilberry extract (20 mg on kg of body weight including 4.5
mg of antocianidin) or vitamin E (40 mg/kg) as drag for comparison. The testing
at 3 month showed that more then 70% of control rats had cataract and macular
degeneration while the supplementation of bilberry extract completely prevented
impairments in the lenses and retina.
Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus ( bilberry herb ) for night vision -- a
systematic review of placebo-controlled trials.
Surv Ophthalmol. 2004 Jan-Feb;49(1):38-50.
We have systematically reviewed placebo-controlled trials of bilberry -extracted
anthocyanosides for evidence of positive effects on night vision. Searches of
computerized databases and citations in retrieved articles identified 30 trials
with outcome measures relevant to vision in reduced light. Of these, 12 were
placebo-controlled. Healthy subjects with normal or above average eyesight were
tested in 11 of the 12 trials. The hypothesis that bilberry anthocyanosides improves normal night vision is not supported by
evidence from rigorous clinical studies. There is a complete absence of rigorous
research into the effects of the bilberry extract on subjects suffering impaired night
vision due to pathological eye conditions. Evidence from methodologically weaker
trials and auxiliary evidence from animal studies, trials of synthetic anthocyanosides, and a recent randomized controlled trial of Ribes nigrum (black
currant) anthocyanosides may warrant further trials of bilberry
anthocyanosides in subjects with impaired night vision.
The effect of bilberry extract nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity
and contrast sensitivity.
Altern Med Rev. 2000 Apr;5(2):164-73. Muth ER, Laurent JM, Jasper P.
Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, NAS Pensacola, Florida 32508, USA.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bilberry
on night visual acuity (VA) and night contrast sensitivity (CS). This
study utilized a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. The
subjects were young males with good vision; eight received placebo and seven
received active capsules for three weeks. Active capsules contained 160 mg of
bilberry extract (25-percent anthocyanosides), and the placebo capsules
contained only inactive ingredients. Subjects ingested one active or placebo
capsule three times daily for 21 days. After the three-week treatment period, a
one-month washout period was employed to allow any effect of bilberry on night
vision to dissipate. In the second three-week treatment period, the eight
subjects who first received placebo were given active capsules, and the seven
who first received active capsules were given placebo. Night VA and night CS was
tested throughout the three-month experiment. There was no difference
in night VA during any of the measurement periods when examining the average
night VA or the last night VA measurement during active and placebo treatments.
In addition, there was no difference in night CS during any of the measurement
periods when examining the average night CS or the last night CS measurement
during active and placebo treatments. The current study failed to
find an effect of bilberry on night VA or night CS for a high dose of bilberry
taken for a significant duration. Hence, the current study casts doubt on the
proposition that bilberry supplementation, in the forms currently available and
in the doses recommended, is an effective treatment for the improvement of night
vision in this population.
Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Sep 24;51(20):5867-70.
Lyons MM, Yu C, Toma RB, Cho SY, Reiboldt W, Lee J, van Breemen RB.
Food and Nutritional Science Division, California State University-Long Beach,
CA
Resveratrol in the fruits of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), the lowbush
"wild" blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), the rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium
ashei Reade), and the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were
measured. Although blueberries and bilberries were found to contain resveratrol, the level
of this chemoprotective compound in these fruits was <10% that reported for
grapes. Furthermore, cooking or heat processing of these berries will contribute
to the degradation of resveratrol.
Historical note
Some of you history buffs may recall that
during World War II, British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots mentioned that their
night vision was clearer whenever they ate bilberry preserves before starting
out on their evening bombing raids.