Bilberry
Bilberry is used for eye and vascular outcomes. Clinical evidence varies by condition and extract quality.
Overview
What is bilberry?
Bilberry is a small, tart fruit related to the blueberry, rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols.
Dosage
A typical dose of bilberry extract is 160–200 mg per day.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
14 conditions for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Database Snapshot
Most bilberry research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Night vision accounts for 4 of 22 studies (18%).
- Asthenopia (Eye Strain) accounts for 3 of 22 studies (14%).
- Glaucoma accounts for 3 of 22 studies (14%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Diabetes, Age-Related Cognitive Decline, Diabetic Retinopathy.
Safety
Dose windows
Long-term
Bilberry extract supplements are likely safe at a long-term dose of up to 160 mg per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources22 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Night vision
4 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Night vision — Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision—a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials2004
A systematic review of 12 placebo-controlled bilberry anthocyanoside trials found the four most recent RCTs showed no night-vision benefit; rigorous evidence does not support improved normal night vision in healthy subjects.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Night vision — The effect of bilberry nutritional supplementation on night visual acuity and contrast sensitivity2000
In 15 young men in a crossover trial, 160 mg/day bilberry extract (25% anthocyanosides) for 3 weeks per arm did not improve night visual acuity or contrast sensitivity versus placebo.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Night vision — The effect of anthocyanosides in a multiple oral dose on night vision1999
In 18 healthy volunteers, 12–24 mg/day anthocyanosides twice daily for 4 days did not significantly affect scotopic threshold, dark adaptation rate, or mesopic contrast sensitivity.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Night vision — The effect of anthocyanosides on night vision1998
In 16 healthy volunteers, single doses of 12–36 mg anthocyanosides did not improve scotopic threshold, dark adaptation, or mesopic contrast sensitivity over 24 h versus placebo.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Age-Related Cognitive Decline — Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment — a randomized clinical trial2021
In 60 men aged ≥67 with subjective memory impairment, 9 weeks of daily bilberry/red grape juice lowered plasma inflammation markers (IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, TNF-α) and LDH versus placebo but did not improve cognitive test scores.
SupplementDEX Database · Asthenopia (Eye Strain)
3 references6.SupplementDEX Database: Asthenopia (Eye Strain) — A 12-Week-Long Intake of Bilberry Extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Improved Objective Findings of Ciliary Muscle Contraction of the Eye: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Comparison Trial2020
A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 109 healthy adults (aged 20-60 yrs) found that daily intake of 240 mg standardized bilberry extract (SBE) significantly improved post-load high-frequency component (HFC-1) values reflecting ciliary muscle contraction following visual display terminal (VDT) tasks compared to placebo.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Asthenopia (Eye Strain) — Effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of fish oil, bilberry extract, and lutein on subjective symptoms of asthenopia in humans2011
In 20 adults, 4 weeks of fish oil plus bilberry and lutein reduced asthenopia symptoms including dry eye, frustration, and stiff shoulder versus placebo.
7.The effect of consuming an anthocyanin-containing supplement derived from Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) on eye function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Parallel Study. See external sourceExternal source
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SupplementDEX Database · Diabetes
2 references9.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — Impact of short-term bilberry supplementation on glycemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and antioxidant status in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes2021
A 4-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study in Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes (n≈20) found that supplementation with 1.4 g/day of bilberry extract reduced HbA₁c by ~0.31% (though not significantly vs placebo) and showed tendencies toward improved glycemic control, but no significant changes in body weight, blood pressure, lipids or antioxidant/inflammatory markers.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — A single supplement of a standardised bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract (36 % wet weight anthocyanins) modifies glycaemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet and lifestyle2013
A single-dose, double-blind, cross-over trial in male volunteers with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet and lifestyle (n=8) showed that ingestion of 0.47 g of a standardized bilberry extract significantly lowered the incremental area under the curve (AUC) for glucose (P=0.003) and insulin (P=0.03) after a 75 g polysaccharide drink, versus placebo.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetic Retinopathy — Bilberry extracts are not created equal: the role of non anthocyanin fraction. Discovering the “dark side of the force” in a preliminary study2016
In 140 retinopathy patients, 6 months of Mirtoselect bilberry extract (36% anthocyanins) improved retinal blood flow parameters more than a generic bilberry extract or standard management alone.
SupplementDEX Database · Dry Eye
1 reference12.SupplementDEX Database: Dry Eye — Bilberry-containing supplements on severe dry eye disease in young and middle-aged adults: A 3-month pilot analysis2023
A pilot randomized controlled trial involving 24 adults with severe dry eye disease (12 in the intervention group and 12 controls) found that daily supplementation with 600 mg of bilberry extract plus 240 mg of fish oil for 3 months improved subjective symptoms (OSDI score) and objective measures (non-invasive tear break-up time, phenol red thread test) compared to no supplement.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Exercise-induced muscle soreness — Effect of bilberry juice on indices of muscle damage and inflammation in runners completing a half-marathon: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial2018
In 19 recreational half-marathon runners, 400 mL/day bilberry juice for 5 days before through 2 days after the race did not reduce muscle soreness, CK, or CRP and may have slightly worsened some markers versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Glaucoma
3 references14.SupplementDEX Database: Glaucoma — Effects of French maritime pine bark/bilberry fruit extracts on intraocular pressure for primary open-angle glaucoma2021
A 4-week supplementation in Japanese patients with Primary open‑angle glaucoma (POAG) taking standard glaucoma medications, using a tablet with 40 mg French maritime pine bark extract + 90 mg bilberry fruit extract, resulted in a mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction of ~8.7% (from 17.2 to 15.7 mmHg) and ~5.7% morning IOP reduction during the intervention.
15.SupplementDEX Database: Glaucoma — Ginkgo biloba extract and bilberry anthocyanins improve visual function in patients with normal tension glaucoma2012
A retrospective analysis of 332 normal-tension glaucoma patients found anthocyanin and ginkgo biloba supplementation over ~24 months improved visual acuity and visual field mean deviation versus no supplementation.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Glaucoma — Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects2008
In 38 adults with ocular hypertension, 2–3 months of Mirtogenol (bilberry plus pine bark, 240 mg/day) lowered IOP from 25.2 to ~22 mmHg and improved ocular blood flow versus untreated controls.
SupplementDEX Database · Hypertension
1 reference17.SupplementDEX Database: Hypertension — Polyphenol-rich juices reduce blood pressure measures in a randomised controlled trial in high normal and hypertensive volunteers2015
In 134 adults with high-normal or stage 1 hypertension, 8–12 weeks of polyphenol-rich juice (245–305 mg/100 g polyphenols, including bilberry) reduced systolic BP by 6.9–7.3 mmHg in the first measurement versus placebo, especially in hypertensive subjects.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study2010
In 31 IBS patients in an open-label pilot, an herbal formula with bilberry (DA-IBS) improved pain, bloating, flatulence, and global symptoms; a constipation-predominant formula with slippery elm and oat bran improved bowel frequency and stool consistency.
SupplementDEX Database · Metabolic Syndrome
1 reference19.SupplementDEX Database: Metabolic Syndrome — Bilberries reduce low-grade inflammation in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome2012
A randomized controlled dietary intervention in individuals with features of metabolic syndrome (n≈27 completed) found that consuming the equivalent of ~400 g fresh Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) daily for 8 weeks tended to reduce markers of low-grade inflammation (e.g., hsCRP, IL-6, IL-12, LPS) and down-regulate gene expression related to monocyte/macrophage activity compared with control diet.
SupplementDEX Database · Myopia
1 reference20.SupplementDEX Database: Myopia — Effect of fermented bilberry extracts on visual outcomes in eyes with myopia: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study2013
In 30 myopic adults (mean age 39.5 years), 400 mg/day fermented bilberry extract for 1 month increased accommodation amplitude by 0.71 D and mesopic contrast sensitivity (AULCSF) versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
1 reference21.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Different berries and berry fractions have various but slightly positive effects on the associated variables of metabolic diseases on overweight and obese women (Low quality study)2011
In 80 overweight/obese women, 33–35 days of whole sea buckthorn or bilberry intake modestly reduced waist circumference and vascular adhesion molecules; effects were small and varied by berry type.
SupplementDEX Database · Ulcerative Colitis
1 reference22.SupplementDEX Database: Ulcerative Colitis — Bilberry ingestion improves disease activity in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis - an open pilot study2012
In 13 mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis patients, 6 weeks of anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract achieved remission in 63.4% and response in 90.9%, lowering Mayo score and fecal calprotectin; symptoms worsened after stopping.