Bilberry is a dark purple/blue-black berry produced by bilberry plants, and has high anthocyanin content for other types of berries, such as strawberries, cranberries, elderberries, tart cherries, and cranberries, are key biologically active substances.
Bilberry is sold mainly in the form of fresh, frozen, and dried whole berries, and are also sold as preserves, jams, juices, or food supplements.
Do you know the benefits of bilberry supplements? Are there any side effects?
Table of Contents
- What is Bilberry/lingonberry?
- What is the difference between bilberry and blueberry?
- What are the benefits of Bilberry?
- 1. Bilberry has rich antioxidant activity
- 2. Bilberry is beneficial for myopia
- 3. Bilberry is good for eyestrain
- 4. Bilberry benefits dry eye syndrome
- 5. Bilberry benefits type 2 diabetes
- 6. Bilberry improves night vision
- 7. Bilberry regulates inflammation factor
- 8. Bilberry Prevents Macular Degeneration and Cataract (Animal Research)
- Are there any side effects?
- Safety Precautions
- How to use bilberry? What is the dosage?
- Where to buy the most recommended bilberry supplement?
What is Bilberry/lingonberry?
Bilberry is a fruit from a low shrub in Central Europe and Northern Europe (approximately 5 to 9 mm in diameter, blue-black in color, with multiple seeds as its characteristics). It is found in North America and parts of Asia It also grows, along with blueberries and cranberries, which are plants of the family Aceraceae/Vaccinium.
Bilberry (lingonberry) fruit is rich in a variety of plant polyphenols (including anthocyanins, flavonols, quercetin, catechins, ellagitannins, tannins, phenolic acids, etc.), of which anthocyanins are the most abundant Feng is also the main target in the study, with the effects of protecting eyesight, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory and so on.
In traditional medicine, bilberry (lingonberry) is used for the treatment of varicose veins, venous insufficiency, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, diabetes, intestinal irritability, ulcerative colitis, glaucoma, eye fatigue, myopia, night vision, weight loss, and dysmenorrhea Or have potential value in prevention.
What is the difference between Bilberry and blueberry?
Bilberry (lingonberry) is sometimes mistaken for blueberries because the two have a similar appearances, but the real blueberries are native to North America.
Although they are closely related and belong to the same genus, bilberry and blueberry are different. How can we tell the difference?
From the appearance, the easiest way to distinguish is that the bilberry is smaller than the blueberry, and the color is darker. The color of the bilberry is blue, and the color of the blueberry is green, with an unfolded corolla at the end.
In addition, the content of Anthocyanins in bilberry (lingonberry) is higher, and the content of fresh fruit per hundred grams is between 300 and 700 mg. It also varies with the variety, growth conditions, and degree of maturity.
Anthocyanin is a water-soluble polyphenolic flavonoid compound, which is the main source of the colorful colors of plants.
Blueberries contain higher levels of other phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, rutin, resveratrol, and epicatechin.
What are the benefits of Bilberry?
1. Bilberry has rich antioxidant activity
Studies have shown that the bilberry is rich in anthocyanins (about 300 to 700 mg of anthocyanins per 100 grams) and is a powerful flavonoid antioxidant.
Flavonoids are the largest group of naturally occurring phenolic compounds. They are present in different parts of plants in the free state and in the form of glycosides. They have antibacterial properties, inhibit mitochondrial adhesion, anti-ulcer, anti-arthritis, anti-angiogenesis, anti- Various biological activities such as cancer and protein kinase inhibition.
In addition to being beneficial to human health, phenolic compounds in plant tissues are also actively involved in plant protection against bacterial and fungal infections, ultraviolet radiation, and physical damage.
2. Bilberry is beneficial for myopia
Myopia is the most common eye disease in the world. About 22.9% of the world’s population, that is, 1.406 billion people have myopia, and another 2.7% (163 million people) have high myopia.
Many East Asian countries are particularly affected. In some areas, the myopia rate of school children exceeds 90%. It is characterized by an extension of the axial length, which can cause various special complications, including cataract formation, retinal detachment, macular traction lesions, vault-like macula, choroidal/scleral thinning, myopic choroidal neovascularization, and glaucoma.
A randomized controlled trial (two-year, 64 children with high myopia), divided into two groups, one group using Difrarel E capsules (containing bilberry extract and vitamin E), the other group did not take any formula.
The results showed that the refractive and axial length of the right eye of the bilberry extract group were significantly improved, and the difference between the two groups was still significant after drug withdrawal.
*Conclusion: The extract of bilberry may be helpful for delaying the progression of myopia, but it is limited by the small sample size and more large-scale experiments are still needed to support it.
3. Bilberry is good for eyestrain
The use of video display terminals (such as computers and mobile phones) has caused major changes in the professional style of millions of people. It brings convenience, but on the other hand, it also leads to an increase in eye diseases. These Patients are often classified as computer vision syndrome.
Computer vision syndrome mainly manifests as itchy eyes, redness, burning, tearing, headache, double vision, eye fatigue, and blurred vision. In addition to reducing the use time of electronic screens, ergonomic furniture use and reducing sources of glare, Adjust the temperature, humidity, display position, work tasks, environmental factors are all necessary to avoid computer vision syndrome.
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (an 8-week, 281 office worker) pointed out that oral bilberry extract (daily dose 480 mg) can improve acute video display terminals visual fatigue caused by the load (measured by the threshold of visual flash fusion), and other subjective symptoms such as eye pain, heavy eye feeling, discomfort, and foreign body sensation have also improved.
*Conclusion: Oral extract of bilberry may be helpful to improve the visual fatigue caused by electronic screen, but limited by the small sample size, more large-scale experiments are still needed to prove it.
4. Bilberry benefits dry eye syndrome
Dry eye disease is a tear film disorder caused by a lack of tears or excessive evaporation. It causes damage to the ocular surface and has a significant negative impact on the patient’s physical and mental health because the patient feels discomfort, pain, and vision changes. They are unable to carry out basic daily activities such as reading, watching TV, driving, and working.
The prevalence of dry eye in the world ranges from 20% to 50%, and the prevalence of young people is often related to the use of 3C equipment and myopia treatment, including wearing contact lenses and laser myopia surgery, among others, In addition, autoimmune diseases, hormonal changes, and systemic drug treatment may also cause dry eye.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-control (for 4 weeks, 22 healthy subjects with dry eye symptoms) pointed out that oral standardized bilberry extract can help increase tear secretion (as measured by Schirmer’s test), and The related improvement effect is more significant in those with more severe dry eye symptoms.
*Conclusion: Oral extract of bilberry may be helpful in improving dry eye syndrome, but limited by the small sample size, more large-scale trials are still needed to corroborate.
5. Bilberry benefits type 2 diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, abnormal lipid, and protein metabolism, and is accompanied by long-term complications of the retina, kidneys, and nervous system.
The basis for treating patients with diabetes is usually to improve dietary intake and exercise are the two main determinants. In addition, lack of sleep will increase insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and dyslipidemia.
A randomized double-blind controlled trial (targeting 8 participants with type 2 diabetes controlled only by diet and lifestyle) pointed out that oral bilberry capsules can help reduce oral glucose tolerance testing compared to placebo.
*Conclusion: Oral extract of bilberry seeds may have a positive effect on lowering postprandial blood sugar and insulin, but it is limited by the small sample size, and more large randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate.
6. Bilberry improves night vision
Under normal visual conditions, we can enjoy the benefits of a wide field of view, mainly used for navigation and positioning, and the high-resolution capabilities of the fovea enable us to discern details.
However, in the case of low light, the focus vision of the recognized object will rapidly degrade. According to German road traffic statistics, although the night traffic only accounts for 20% of the whole day, 40% of traffic accidents have occurred, so it has Good night vision is very important for drivers, military personnel, and even the elderly.
A Systematic Review (including 12 placebo-controlled trials) pointed out that for subjects with normal or above-average vision, there has not been a rigorous verification of the effectiveness of Sanzizi to improve or enhance night vision.
In addition, for night vision disorders caused by pathological eye diseases, there is also a complete lack of rigorous research evidence.
*Conclusion: As of now, there is no clear evidence that bilberry can improve night vision.
7. Bilberry regulates inflammation factor
Inflammation is the body’s immune response to infection or foreign body invasion (often in the form of redness, heat, pain, etc.). In fact, inflammation itself is beneficial (the process of immune cell removal and repair). If the inflammation reaction is lost, it represents the body Loss of immunity, just like AIDS patients, any infection will be fatal.
In a small human randomized controlled trial, it was found that bilberry fruit juice can regulate a variety of inflammation-related markers, such as C-reactive protein, cytokines IL-6, IL-15, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha ), and inhibition of these factors can reduce the activation of NF-kappaB and regulate the inflammatory response (NF-kappaB is also called an inflammation switch in the cell, which is a protein complex).
8. Bilberry Prevents Macular Degeneration and Cataract (Animal Research)
In recent years, it has been clinically found that in the past, eye diseases (such as macular degeneration and cataracts) mainly in the elderly and high myopia groups have appeared in young and middle-aged people.
The common feature of this group of patients is a large amount of 3 C products used every day. Due to excessive reception of blue light from the screen, oxidative damage to the crystals and the macular area is caused, which increases the chance of degradation and pathology. Therefore, learning how to prevent it becomes an important issue.
In an animal control experiment, the rats were divided into two groups (respectively given bilberry or vitamin E). After 3 months, it was found that the extract of bilberry had an antioxidant effect, which could prevent macular degeneration and cataracts (while taking vitamins 70% of the control group of E had macular degeneration and cataract).
*Conclusion: Bilberry may be helpful in preventing degenerative diseases of the eye, but human studies still need to be further verified.
Are there any side effects?
As a general food, the dried or ripe fruit of bilberry is safe for most people.
The artificially extracted bilberry health products are also considered to be safe under the conditions of proper use, but the possible side effects or adverse reactions that have been reported are nausea, mild heartburn, exhaust, gastrointestinal discomfort, rash, and fatigue.
Safety Precautions
1. Pregnant women, lactating women, children, or those with poor liver and kidney function should not use related health care products (because the safety is unknown).
2. Do not use in patients with poor blood coagulation function or taking anticoagulants, because the main component of Anthocyanosides in the bilberry has an anticoagulant effect, the related drug names are Aspirin, clopidogrel, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin.
3. Do not use it in people with diabetes or taking related blood-sugar-lowering drugs, because the bilberry seeds may have blood sugar-lowering effects. The names of related medicines are Glimepiride, glyburide, insulin, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, chlorpropamide, glipizide, tolbutamide.
4. Please stop using it two weeks before the surgical operation, which may affect the blood sugar control during and after the operation.
5. Due to a large number of tannins in the leaves of the bilberry, it is not recommended to eat. If it is excessive, it may cause weight loss, muscle cramps, and serious death.
6. Avoid the simultaneous use of health ingredients or herbs that may affect blood sugar, such as devil’s claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng.
7. Avoid the simultaneous use of health ingredients or herbs that may affect blood clotting function, such as angelica, capsicum, clove, danshen, ginger, ginkgo, poplar, red clover, turmeric, willow.
8. Avoid using chromium health ingredients or herbs, such as brewer’s yeast, cascara, and horsetail.
9. It may cause food allergies. Although it is extremely rare, it can still occur. Two cases have been reported. The symptoms include itching, shortness of breath, and anaphylactic shock. This is because similar berries (blueberries) may contain Sulfates, vasoactive amines, benzoate, and salicylates, these ingredients may trigger an inflammatory reaction in people who are sensitive or intolerant.
How to use bilberry? What is the dosage?
Due to limited research and huge differences in dosage, it is difficult to determine the optimal dosage.
The following lists only the most common doses in clinical trials (generally about 8 to 12 weeks).
However, before using herbal supplements, please consult a specialist about your physical condition to ensure safe use.
chronic venous insufficiency: 173 mg of anthocyanin per day
Lower cholesterol: 65 to 300 grams of berries or 320 mg of extract per day
Weight loss: 100 grams of berries per day
Eye diseases: 59 to 180 mg of anthocyanins per day
Diabetes: 50 to 300 grams of berries per meal
Where to buy the most recommended bilberry supplement?
In recent years, food safety problems in various countries have exploded, and it is not healthy but black-hearted products that everyone spends on. Therefore, European and American products with relatively strict quality control have become popular products.
And iHerb.com is a large-scale medical cosmetics e-commerce company in the United States. It has a high satisfaction rate of 97% in the evaluation of Google customers. It provides global home delivery so that you can buy it without risking buying fakes through purchasing high-quality health products.
