빌베리 추출물

Antiaging, Brightening, and Antioxidant Efficacy of Fermented Bilberry Extract (Vaccinium myrtillus): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

1. Nutrients. 2024 Jul 10;16(14):2203. doi: 10.3390/nu16142203. Antiaging, Brightening, and Antioxidant Efficacy of Fermented Bilberry Extract (Vaccinium myrtillus): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nobile V(1), Dudonné S(2), Kern C(2), Roveda G(3), Garcia C(2). Author infor

Bilberry-derived anthocyanins prevent IFN-γ-induced pro-inflammatory signalling and cytokine secretion in human THP-1 monocytic cells.

2. Digestion. 2014;90(3):179-89. doi: 10.1159/000366055. Epub 2014 Nov 12. Bilberry-derived anthocyanins prevent IFN-γ-induced pro-inflammatory signalling and cytokine secretion in human THP-1 monocytic cells. Roth S(1), Spalinger MR, Müller I, Lang S, Rogler G, Scharl M. Author information: (1)

A grape seed and bilberry extract reduces blood pressure in individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes: the PRECISE study, a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over intervention study.

1. Front Nutr. 2023 Jun 7;10:1139880. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1139880. eCollection 2023. A grape seed and bilberry extract reduces blood pressure in individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes: the PRECISE study, a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over intervention study. Grohmann T(1), Walker AW(1), Russell WR(1), Hoggard N(1), Zhang X(2), Horgan G(3), de Roos B(1). Author information: (1)Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. (2)By-Health Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China. (3)Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a major risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic diseases. T2DM prevention is largely based on weight-loss and whole diet changes, but intervention with dietary plant bioactives may also improve metabolic health. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether supplementation with bilberry and grape seed extract for 12 weeks improves cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals at risk of developing T2DM, and to determine whether individual treatment response is associated with differences in gut microbiota composition and levels of phenolic metabolites in blood and feces. METHODS: In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over PRECISE intervention study, 14 participants, aged ≥45 years, with a BMI >28 kg/m2, and having an increased risk of T2DM, received a supplement containing 250 mg of bilberry plus 300 mg of grape seed extract, or 550 mg of a control extract, per day, for 12 weeks each. Blood samples were obtained for the assessment of HbA1c, fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance tests, insulin, glucagon levels, total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and phenolic acids. We also assessed advanced glycation end products in the skin, ambulatory 24 hours blood pressure, 7-day dietary intake by weighed food diaries, fecal levels of phenolic metabolites using LC-MS/MS and gut microbiota composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. RESULTS: The combined bilberry and grape seed extract did not affect glucose and cholesterol outcomes, but it decreased systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure by 4.7 (p < 0.001) and 2.3 (p = 0.0009) mmHg, respectively. Eight out of fourteen participants were identified as blood pressure 'responders'. These responders had higher levels of phenylpropionic and phenyllactic acids in their fecal samples, and a higher proportional abundance of Fusicatenibacter-related bacteria (p < 0.01) in their baseline stool samples. CONCLUSION: Long-term supplementation with bilberry and grape seed extract can improve systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals at risk of T2DM. Individual responsiveness was correlated with the presence of certain fecal bacterial strains, and an ability to metabolize (epi)catechin into smaller phenolic metabolites.Clinical trial registry number: Research Registry (number 4084). Copyright © 2023 Grohmann, Walker, Russell, Hoggard, Zhang, Horgan and de Roos. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1139880 PMCID: PMC10283353 PMID: 37351191 Conflict of interest statement: XZ is an employee of the company By-health Co., Ltd., and BR is a member of By-Health’s academic advisory board. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Bilberry Supplementation after Myocardial Infarction Decreases Microvesicles in Blood and Affects Endothelial Vesiculation.

2. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2020 Oct;64(20):e2000108. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202000108. Epub 2020 Sep 10. Bilberry Supplementation after Myocardial Infarction Decreases Microvesicles in Blood and Affects Endothelial Vesiculation. Bryl-Górecka P(1), Sathanoori R(1), Arevström L(2), Landberg R(3), Bergh C(4), Evander M(5), Olde B(1), Laurell T(5), Fröbert O(2), Erlinge D(1). Author information: (1)Department of Cardiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 00, Lund, Sweden. (2)Faculty of Health, Department of Cardiology, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden. (3)Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden. (4)Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, 702 81, Örebro, Sweden. (5)Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, 221 00, Lund, Sweden. SCOPE: Diet rich in bilberries is considered cardioprotective, but the mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Cardiovascular disease is characterized by increased proatherogenic status and high levels of circulating microvesicles (MVs). In an open-label study patients with myocardial infarction receive an 8 week dietary supplementation with bilberry extract (BE). The effect of BE on patient MV levels and its influence on endothelial vesiculation in vitro is investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: MVs are captured with acoustic trapping and platelet-derived MVs (PMVs), as well as endothelial-derived MVs (EMVs) are quantified with flow cytometry. The in vitro effect of BE on endothelial extracellular vesicle (EV) release is examined using endothelial cells and calcein staining. The mechanisms of BE influence on vesiculation pathways are studied by Western blot and qRT-PCR. Supplementation with BE decreased both PMVs and EMVs. Furthermore, BE reduced endothelial EV release, Akt phosphorylation, and vesiculation-related gene transcription. It also protects the cells from P2X7 -induced EV release and increase in vesiculation-related gene expression. CONCLUSION: BE supplementation improves the MV profile in patient blood and reduces endothelial vesiculation through several molecular mechanisms related to the P2X7 receptor. The findings provide new insight into the cardioprotective effects of bilberries. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202000108 PMCID: PMC7685140 PMID: 32846041 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Thomas Laurell is a founder, board member, and shareholder of AcouSort AB, a University spin‐off company that commercializes acoustofluidic technology. The rest of authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acute Ingestion of a Mixed Flavonoid and Caffeine Supplement Increases Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation in Adult Women: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial.

3. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 5;11(11):2665. doi: 10.3390/nu11112665. Acute Ingestion of a Mixed Flavonoid and Caffeine Supplement Increases Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation in Adult Women: A Randomized, Crossover Clinical Trial. Nieman DC(1), Simonson A(1), Sakaguchi CA(2), Sha W(3), Blevins T(4), Hattabaugh J(4), Kohlmeier M(4). Author information: (1)Human Performance Laboratory, North Carolina Research Campus, Appalachian State University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. (2)Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil. (3)Bioinformatics Services Division, North Carolina Research Campus, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. (4)UNC Nutrition Research Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Research Campus, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA. This randomized, double-blinded, crossover study measured the acute effect of ingesting a mixed flavonoid-caffeine (MFC) supplement compared to placebo (PL) on energy expenditure (EE) and fat oxidation (FATox) in a metabolic chamber with premenopausal women (n = 19, mean ± SD, age 30.7 ± 8.0 year, BMI 25.7 ± 3.4 kg/m2). The MFC supplement (658 mg flavonoids, split dose 8:30, 13:00) contained quercetin, green tea catechins, and anthocyanins from bilberry extract, and 214 mg caffeine. Participants were measured twice in a metabolic chamber for a day, four weeks apart, with outcomes including 22 h EE (8:30-6:30), substrate utilization from the respiratory quotient (RQ), plasma caffeine levels (16:00), and genotyping for the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs762551. Areas under the curve (AUC) for metabolic data from the MFC and PL trials were calculated using the trapezoid rule, with a mixed linear model (GLM) used to evaluate the overall treatment effect. The 22 h oxygen consumption and EE were significantly higher with MFC than PL (1582 ± 143, 1535 ± 154 kcal/day, respectively, p = 0.003, trial difference of 46.4 ± 57.8 kcal/day). FATox trended higher for MFC when evaluated using GLM (99.2 ± 14.0, 92.4 ± 14.4 g/22 h, p = 0.054). Plasma caffeine levels were significantly higher in the MFC versus PL trial (5031 ± 289, 276 ± 323 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). Trial differences for 22 h EE and plasma caffeine were unrelated after controlling for age and body mass (r = -0.249, p = 0.139), and not different for participants with the homozygous allele 1, A/A, compared to C/A and C/C (p = 0.50 and 0.56, respectively). In conclusion, EE was higher for MFC compared to PL, and similar to effects estimated from previous trials using caffeine alone. A small effect of the MFC on FATox was measured, in contrast to inconsistent findings previously reported for this caffeine dose. The trial variance for 22 h EE was not significantly related to the variance in plasma caffeine levels or CYP1A2*1F allele carriers and non-carriers. DOI: 10.3390/nu11112665 PMCID: PMC6893703 PMID: 31694152 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Freeze-dried bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) dietary supplement improves walking distance and lipids after myocardial infarction: an open-label randomized clinical trial.

4. Nutr Res. 2019 Feb;62:13-22. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.008. Epub 2018 Nov 17. Freeze-dried bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) dietary supplement improves walking distance and lipids after myocardial infarction: an open-label randomized clinical trial. Arevström L(1), Bergh C(2), Landberg R(3), Wu H(4), Rodriguez-Mateos A(5), Waldenborg M(1), Magnuson A(6), Blanc S(7), Fröbert O(1). Author information: (1)Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. (2)Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: cecilia.bergh@oru.se. (3)Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden. (4)Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. (5)Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK. (6)Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden. (7)Department of Ecology, Physiology and Ethology, Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Bilberries, Vaccinium myrtillus, have a high content of phenolic compounds including anthocyanins, which could provide cardiometabolic health benefits following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We hypothesized that standard medical therapy supplemented with freeze-dried bilberry after AMI would have a more beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk markers and exercise capacity than medical therapy alone. Patients were allocated in a 1:1 ratio within 24 hours of percutaneous coronary intervention in an 8-week trial either to V myrtillus powder (40 g/d, equivalent to 480 g fresh bilberries) and standard medical therapy or to a control group receiving standard medical therapy alone. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and exercise capacity measured with the 6-minute walk test were the primary biochemical and clinical end points, respectively. Fifty subjects completed the study. No statistically significant difference in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was detected between groups. The mean 6-minute walk test distance increased significantly more in the bilberry group compared to the control group: mean difference 38 m at follow-up (95% confidence interval 14-62, P = .003). Ex vivo oxidized low-density lipoprotein was significantly lowered in the bilberry group compared to control, geometric mean ratio 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.66-0.96, P = .017), whereas total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ significantly between groups. Anthocyanin-derived metabolites in blood increased significantly in the bilberry group during the intervention and were different after 8 weeks between the bilberry group and control. Findings in the present study suggest that bilberries may have clinically relevant beneficial effects following AMI; a larger, double-blind clinical trial is warranted to confirm this. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.008 PMID: 30803503 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Bilberry extract supplementation for preventing eye fatigue in video display terminal workers.

5. J Nutr Health Aging. 2015 May;19(5):548-54. doi: 10.1007/s12603-014-0573-6. Bilberry extract supplementation for preventing eye fatigue in video display terminal workers. Ozawa Y(1), Kawashima M, Inoue S, Inagaki E, Suzuki A, Ooe E, Kobayashi S, Tsubota K. Author information: (1)Kazuo Tsubota M.D., Ph.D. Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine; 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. Phone: +81-3-3353-1211, Fax: +81-3-3359-8302,E-mail: tsubota@z3.keio.jp. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of a dietary supplement containing bilberry extract (BE) on eye fatigue induced by acute video display terminal (VDT) loads. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed from August 2012 to February 2013 in the Medical Corporation Jico-kai Yagi Hospital, and the Shinyokohama Shinoharaguchi Orthopedic Surgery and Dermatology Clinic, in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred eighty-one office workers aged 20-40 years that used VDTs were screened by critical flicker fusion (CFF) and near point accommodation (NPA). INTERVENTION: The participants were randomized to either a BE (480 mg/day) or placebo (vehicle) group, and took allocated capsule, daily, for 8 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: The CFF, NPA, contrast visual acuity, functional visual acuity, keratoconjunctival epithelial damage, and fluorescein tear film break-up time were examined, and 18 subjective symptoms of eye fatigue were evaluated by questionnaire. Adverse events were reported via medical interviews. Data were collected both before and after VDT load at baseline, and 4, and 8 weeks after daily supplementation with either BE or placebo. RESULTS: Of 281 participants screened, 88 having relatively lower levels of CFF and NPA were enrolled in the study. Of these, 37 control and 43 BE group subjects completed the study. The VDT load-induced reduction in CFF was alleviated after 8 weeks of BE supplementation (95% confidence interval, 0.10-1.60; p=0.023), in contrast to placebo supplementation, while NPA variation was not. Of the subjective symptoms of eye fatigue, VDT load-induced ocular fatigue sensation, ocular pain, eye heaviness, uncomfortable sensation, and foreign body sensation were mitigated more in the BE group than in the control group, at week 8 (p<0.05). There were no severe adverse events in either group. CONCLUSIONS: BE supplementation improved some of the objective and subjective parameters of eye fatigue induced by VDT loads. DOI: 10.1007/s12603-014-0573-6 PMCID: PMC12877697 PMID: 25923485 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of fish oil, bilberry extract, and lutein on subjective symptoms of asthenopia in humans.

6. Biomed Res. 2011 Dec;32(6):387-93. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.32.387. Effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of fish oil, bilberry extract, and lutein on subjective symptoms of asthenopia in humans. Kawabata F(1), Tsuji T. Author information: (1)Human Life Science R&D Center, Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd., Tokyo 100-8686, Japan. f-kawabata@nissui.co.jp The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a combination of fish oil, bilberry extract, and lutein on subjective symptoms of asthenopia in humans by a double- blind, randomized, parallel-group, and placebo-controlled trial. In the Active group, eleven subjects ingested a supplement containing omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil (docosahexaenoic acid 783 mg/day, eicosapentaenoic acid 162 mg/day), bilberry extract (anthocyanidin 59 mg/day), and lutein (17.5 mg/day) in soft gel capsule form, every day for 4 weeks. In the Placebo group, nine subjects ingested placebo capsules. Before and after supplementation, subjects completed a questionnaire to determine their asthenopia symptoms and were also assessed for mental fatigue symptom by the visual analog scale (VAS) test. Asthenopia symptoms such as "stiff shoulder, low back pain", "frustration", "dry-eye", and "stuffy head" were improved in the Active group. Furthermore, a score of mental fatigue was improved after 4 weeks of supplementation, and no side effects were observed after the 4-week supplementation and a 2-week washout period in the Active group. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with the combination of omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil, bilberry extract, and lutein may safely improve subjective symptoms of asthenopia and mental fatigue in humans. DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.32.387 PMID: 22199129 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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 Trial.

7. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 25;12(3):600. doi: 10.3390/nu12030600. 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 Trial. Kosehira M(1), Machida N(1), Kitaichi N(2). Author information: (1)Research Department, Omnica Co., Ltd, 4-21-7 Itabashi, Itabashi ward, Tokyo, 173-0004, Japan. (2)Department of Ophthalmology, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Sapporo 002-8072, Japan. A 12-week-long randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparison trial was conducted to determine the effects of long-term standardized bilberry extract (SBE) intake on tonic accommodation of ciliary muscle caused by visual display terminal (VDT) tasks. This study was compliant with the accordance with CONSORT 2010 statement. A total of 109 healthy adult men and women aged 20-60 years were recruited and randomized into SBE and placebo groups. The subjects in the SBE and placebo groups were administered 240 mg of SBE and placebo, respectively, once daily for 12 weeks. Tests were performed before and after VDT tasks at week 0, 4, 8, and 12; high-frequency component (HFC)-1 value was the evaluation outcome. Results showed that post-load HFC-1 values at weeks 8 and 12 were significantly improved in the SBE group than in the placebo group (p = 0.014 and 0.017, respectively). Regarding the difference between before and after the task load (ΔHFC-1), the values were significantly better in the SBE group than in the placebo group at week 4 and 12 (p = 0.018 and 0.049, respectively). This study shows that oral consumption of 240 mg SBE extract for 12 weeks relieves the tonic accommodation of the ciliary muscle caused by VDT tasks and near-vision tasks. DOI: 10.3390/nu12030600 PMCID: PMC7146147 PMID: 32106548 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: M.K. and N.M. are employees of Omnica Co., Ltd., Japan.

Protective effect of bilberry extract as a pretreatment on induced oral mucositis in hamsters.

8. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2013 Dec;116(6):702-8. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.07.004. Epub 2013 Sep 27. Protective effect of bilberry extract as a pretreatment on induced oral mucositis in hamsters. Davarmanesh M(1), Miri R, Haghnegahdar S, Tadbir AA, Tanideh N, Saghiri MA, Garcia-Godoy F, Asatourian A. Author information: (1)Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of standardized bilberry extract containing anthocyanosides on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in hamsters. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-four hamsters were randomly chosen and assigned to groups. Groups A and B were pretreated with deionized water, whereas group C was pretreated with bilberry extract daily for 7 days. Groups B and C underwent chemotherapy by intraperitoneal injections of 5-fluorouracil (days 4, 9, and 14); group A received normal saline. Potentiation of oral mucositis was achieved by scratching both cheek pouches of all animals with needles (days 5, 6, and 14). The pouches were histopathologically examined on day 17 after visual examination and blood sampling by cardiac puncture. RESULTS: The bilberry extract group showed significantly lower oral mucositis clinical and histopathologic scores (P < .05) and less percentile of mean daily weight reductions compared with animals receiving vehicle. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent administration of bilberry extract had a protective effect on oral mucosal damage induced by 5-fluorouracil in an animal model. Published by Mosby, Inc. DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.07.004 PMID: 24080533 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of fermented bilberry extracts on visual outcomes in eyes with myopia: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

9. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Apr;29(3):356-9. doi: 10.1089/jop.2012.0098. Epub 2012 Oct 31. Effect of fermented bilberry extracts on visual outcomes in eyes with myopia: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Kamiya K(1), Kobashi H, Fujiwara K, Ando W, Shimizu K. Author information: (1)Department of Ophthalmology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. kamiyak-tky@umin.ac.jp PURPOSE: To investigate clinically the effects of yeast-fermented bilberry extract on visual outcomes in myopic eyes. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, we examined 30 eyes of 30 middle-aged healthy volunteers (mean age±standard deviation, 39.5±7.2 years) with myopia [manifest spherical equivalent, -2.40±1.88 diopters (D)], who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 oral regimens: fermented bilberry extract (400 mg/day) or placebo. We quantitatively assessed visual acuity, refraction, pupil constriction rate, accommodation, and mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS), before and 1 month after treatment. Only the right eyes were tested. The amplitude of accommodation and CS were measured with an accommodometer (D'ACOMO; WOC) and a CS unit (VCTS-6500; Vistech), respectively. From the CS, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated. RESULTS: The mean amplitude of accommodation increased significantly, from 4.62±1.88 D before treatment, to 5.33±2.03 D after treatment in the study group (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P=0.002). Moreover, the mesopic AULCSF was significantly increased, from 1.04±0.16 before, to 1.13±0.17 after, treatment (P=0.009). However, we found no significant changes in accommodation or AULCSF in the control group (P>0.05), or any significant changes in any other parameters in either group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present data show that fermented bilberry extract is effective in causing increases in subjective accommodation and in mesopic CS in myopic eyes. DOI: 10.1089/jop.2012.0098 PMID: 23113643 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials.

10. Surv Ophthalmol. 2004 Jan-Feb;49(1):38-50. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.10.006. Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. Canter PH(1), Ernst E. Author information: (1)Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, UK. peter.canter@pms.ac.uk Comment in Surv Ophthalmol. 2004 Nov-Dec;49(6):618; author reply 618. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2004.08.009. We have systematically reviewed placebo-controlled trials of V. myrtillus-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. The 4 most recent trials were all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and were negative in outcome. A fifth RCT and 7 non-randomized controlled trials reported positive effects on outcome measures relevant to night vision. Negative outcome was associated with more rigorous methodology but also with lower dose level and extracts from geographically distinct sources that may differ in anthocyanoside composition. Healthy subjects with normal or above average eyesight were tested in 11 of the 12 trials. The hypothesis that V. myrtillus 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 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 V. myrtillus anthocyanosides in subjects with impaired night vision. DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2003.10.006 PMID: 14711439 [Indexed for MEDLINE]