Bilberry safety studies
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Bilberry Safety Studies: Toxicity, Clinical Use, and Animal Research
Safety and Toxicity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium uliginosum)
Research on the safety of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and its close relative, bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), shows that these berries are generally considered safe when consumed as food or in moderate supplement doses. Historical reports of toxicity related to bog bilberry are unproven and may be due to confusion with other plants, fungal contamination, or misinterpretation of local names. There is no strong scientific evidence supporting the idea that bilberry or bog bilberry fruits are toxic, and the fear of toxicity is not present in regions where these berries are commonly consumed as food or medicine. However, there is a lack of recent research directly addressing the toxicity of bog bilberry, highlighting a need for further studies to clarify any potential risks .
Clinical Research and Human Safety Data
Bilberry fruits and extracts are widely used in supplements, especially for eye health, diabetes, and circulatory disorders. Clinical studies on bilberry’s health benefits have produced mixed results, and there is a lack of large, double-blind, controlled trials. While some studies report beneficial effects for dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation, the evidence for other uses is inconsistent. Importantly, no major safety concerns or adverse effects have been consistently reported in clinical trials or dietary use, but the lack of robust, large-scale studies means that rare side effects or long-term risks cannot be completely ruled out .
Animal Studies: Safety and Protective Effects
Animal studies provide additional evidence for the safety of bilberry. In rats, bilberry supplementation did not cause harm and even showed protective effects. For example, bilberry extract protected rat kidneys from gentamicin-induced toxicity, likely due to its antioxidant properties and high anthocyanin content. No adverse effects were observed in rats given bilberry at doses up to 100 mg/kg daily . Another study found that bilberry supplementation improved glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats, with no reported toxicity or negative side effects . In aging rats, moderate doses of bilberry anthocyanin extract improved gut health and did not cause harm, though very high doses could alter beneficial gut bacteria in an undesirable way .
Environmental and Contaminant Considerations
Bilberry plants can accumulate heavy metals from polluted environments, which may affect the safety of wild-harvested leaves and fruits. In areas with high soil contamination, bilberry leaves showed increased levels of heavy metals and signs of cellular damage. This suggests that the safety of bilberry products may depend on the growing environment, and products from polluted areas could pose health risks due to heavy metal contamination rather than the bilberry itself .
Conclusion
Current research indicates that bilberry fruits and extracts are generally safe for human and animal consumption when sourced from clean environments and used in moderate amounts. There is no strong evidence of inherent toxicity, but more high-quality clinical studies are needed to confirm long-term safety and rule out rare adverse effects. Consumers should be cautious about the source of bilberry products to avoid potential contamination with heavy metals.
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