Supplement
Bilberry is a dark blue berry rich in anthocyanins, pigments that act as antioxidants and help support small blood vessels and blood flow, including in the eye. People mostly look at it for eye health, such as elevated eye pressure, where the evidence is limited, though trials found focusing ability improved after long screen sessions. Those studies were fairly small, so the picture is still early.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 12 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 10
- Graded outcomes
- 0451
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Display Terminal Eye Fatigue Improved accommodation after VDT use | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 141 people | |||
| Ciliary Muscle Function Significant improvement at weeks 8 and 12 | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 109 people | |||
| Dry Eye Symptoms Preliminary improvement in signs and symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 38 people | |||
| Glaucoma Visual Field Reduced visual field degradation over 24 months | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 38 people | |||
| Night Vision (Normal) No effect in rigorous RCTs - the WWII legend is debunked | NoneNo effect | 120 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure 4.7 mmHg systolic, 2.3 mmHg diastolic reduction | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 96 people | |||
| LDL Cholesterol Reduced LDL-C in at-risk populations | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 108 people |
Blood Sugar
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose (OGTT) 20% decrease in OGTT AUC | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 24 people | |||
| Insulin Sensitivity Improved HOMA-IR over 24 weeks | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 60 people | |||
| HbA1c 4.7% average reduction in meta-analysis | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 150 people |
Key findings
- Visual Display Terminal Eye FatigueImproves (the measure goes down)
- Ciliary Muscle FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Blood PressureImproves (the measure goes down)
Safety notes in the studies
- Reduced LDL-C in at-risk populations
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Bilberry products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
12 studies from PubMed
- 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
- Bilberries: Curative and Miraculous - A Review on Bioactive Constituents and Clinical Research
- Efficacy of Bilberry and Grape Seed Extract Supplement Interventions to Improve Glucose and Cholesterol Metabolism and Blood Pressure in Different Populations-A Systematic Review of the Literature
- 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
- Effects of Bilberry Supplementation on Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
- The effect of a natural, standardized bilberry extract (Mirtoselect) in dry eye: a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial
- 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 lifestyle
- Intake of bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease by inducing favorable changes in lipoprotein profiles
- Vision preservation during retinal inflammation by anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract: cellular and molecular mechanism
- Dietary anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract ameliorates hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in diabetic mice
- Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol
- Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials