The bilberry bush (Vaccinium myrtillus, Bilberry, European Blueberry, Whortleberry, Huckleberry) is native to northern areas of Europe and Asia, the northern United States, and Canada. Its dark berries resemble blueberries. Since Middle Ages, the berries and leaves of bilberry has been used for medicinal purposes. (1)
Historically, bilberry has been used for different conditions, such as diarrhea, inflammation of the mouth, urinary problems, diabetes and the prevention of scurvy. It may also improve night vision, and used as dietary supplement for night vision, cataracts, varicose veins, artherosclerosis and some other conditions. For low doses, bilberry may be safe for short term use, however, bilberry may interact with a cancer drug called erlotinib (Tarceval), antidiabetes drugs, or medications that slow blood clotting. (1) Below is a summary of recent research on bilberry.
RECENT RESEARCH
Bilberry might also be helpful for people with presbyopia and dry eyes. There is based on a small initial study. Presbyopia is a common eye condition that makes it harder to see things close up, affecting many people over 50. Dry eyes are another issue that can cause discomfort. The study looked at a combination of these three berries, finding that after 6 weeks, most people saw some improvement in their near vision. There was also an initial improvement in dry eye symptoms, but this lessened over time. It's important to note that this is a very early study and more research is needed to confirm these findings. However, it suggests bilberry might be a natural approach to help with presbyopia and dry eyes. (2)
On the other hand, a small study examined if a combination of bilberry and grape seed extract could improve health markers in people at risk of type 2 diabetes. While it didn't affect blood sugar or cholesterol, it did show a decrease in blood pressure for some participants. Interestingly, those who responded well to the supplement had different gut bacteria compared to those who didn't. This suggests bilberry might be helpful for blood pressure control in some people, but more research is needed to understand exactly who might benefit most. (3)
REFERENCE
1. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets, NIH, May 3, 2024.
2. Dorota Szumny et al, Extract from Aronia melanocarpa, Lonicera caerulea, and Vaccinium myrtillus Improves near Visual Acuity in People with Presbyopia, Randomized Controlled Trial Nutrients. 2024 Mar 23;16(7):926.
3. Teresa Grohmann et al, 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, Front Nutr. 2023 Jun 7:10:1139880