Welcome to this edition of Ounce of Prevention’s Words On Wellness. In this issue we’ll discuss bilberry, a berry that is used extensively throughout Europe for conditions affecting eyesight that’s beginning to gain popularity in the United States. Thank you for reading Ounce of Prevention’s Words On Wellness.
All statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. All statements are based on studies and/or research, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to diagnosis, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The nutritional supplement discussed in this newsletter is not a drug and should not be used as a drug or in lieu of drugs prescribed by your physician. Always consult with your physician before taking any pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements.
Bilberry’s
Discovery
The use of bilberry for the treatment of conditions affecting eyesight dates back to World
War II when it was discovered that British Royal Air Force pilots reported increased
nighttime vision after ingesting bilberries. This discovery was certainly of great
importance to the pilots during their bombing runs. The studies that followed demonstrated
that bilberries resulted in subjects reporting improved nighttime visual acuity, quicker
adjustment to darkness and faster recovery of pupillary response to glare. In Europe,
bilberry extracts are an integral component of the treatment of many disorders of the eye,
including cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and night blindness.
What Is Bilberry?
Bilberry, also known as European blueberry, is a member of a genus that includes almost
200 species of berries, including cranberries and American blueberries. Bilberry is a
perennial, shrubby plant that grows throughout Europe. Bilberries differ from American
blueberries in that the meat of the fruit is dark purple, whereas the American
berry’s meat is cream or white colored. The active components of bilberries are
flavonoid compounds known as anthocyanosides. Bilberry contains more than fifteen
different anthocyanosides which originate from five different anthocyanidins found in
bilberry. While anthocyanosides, due to their tremendous antioxidant activity, play a
major role in fighting many diseases and disease processes, focus of this newsletter will
be their role in combatting conditions affecting the eye.
How The Eye Works
The eye does one thing: It receives light via specialized nerve cells, called rods and
cones, that change the light into nerve impulses that travel through the optic nerve to
the visual area of the brain where the impulses are processed accordingly so that we may
"see." Anything that alters this process, such as a compromised blood supply or
altered nerve transmission, can result in problems with vision.
Bilberry & the
Eye
Bilberry appears to have two main actions regarding the health of the eye.
First, it appears to help in the delivery of blood, hence oxygen and nutrients, to the
eye. The eye is one of the most vascular tissues in the body. If the eye’s blood flow
is compromised, the eye is unable to obtain sufficient nutrients that are vital to its
health. This results in a variety of disorders affecting vision, including cataracts and
macular degeneration and other common diseases of the eye associated with aging.
Second, bilberry acts as a powerful antioxidant. This is due to the anthocyanoside content
as discussed above. Antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals which are unstable
oxygen molecules that contribute to no less than 60 diseases and their processes. (For
more information on antioxidants, please read Ounce of Prevention’s Words On
Wellness: Antioxidants.)
Bilberry &
Cataracts
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and impaired vision in the United States. Due
to its anthocyanoside content, bilberry has demonstrated tremendous protection against the
development of cataracts. In one study, bilberry extract with vitamin E stopped cataract
progression in 97 percent of 50 subjects with senile cortical cataracts (the kind we get
with aging).
Bilberry &
Macular Degeneration
The macula is the area of the eye that is responsible for fine, detailed vision. It
contains the highest concentration of light-receiving rods and cones. Degeneration of this
area of the eye is another leading cause of severe visual loss in both Europe and the
United States in people 55 years of age and older. Risk factors for macular degeneration
include atherosclerosis, hypertension (high blood pressure) and aging. Currently, no
medical treatment exists for the most common type of macular degeneration. As is the case
with cataracts, the anthocyanosides found in bilberries appear to offer protection against
the development of macular degeneration. Studies have shown that the rate of retinal
degeneration associated with macular degeneration can be slowed by increasing the amount
of anthocyanosides through dietary supplementation.
Bilberry &
General Vision
Some of the first scientific studies confirmed the effects noticed by the Royal Air Force
pilots during World War II. The portion of the retina that is responsible for vision and controls our visual
adaptation from dark to light and light to dark is referred to as the visual purple area.
It appears that the anthocyanosides in bilberry have a tremendous attraction to this area
of the retina, leading researchers to conclude that bilberry extracts may be of great
value in the treatment of not only poor night vision, but poor day vision also.
Bilberry’s
Dosage
Bilberry’s dosage is dependent on the percentage of the anthocyanoside content. Best
results will be realized by using a standardized bilberry product. Standardized means that
you will be guaranteed that the amount of the active ingredient (in bilberry’s case,
anthocyanosides) as indicated on the product’s label will actually be in each
capsule. Non-standardized products do not offer this assurance. Look for a bilberry
product that is standardized to contain 25% anthocyanosides. The recommended dose is one
to two 60 mg capsules three times a day. For intensive use, two to three 60 mg capsules
three times a day works well.
In conclusion, bilberry is a safe, non-toxic natural nutritional aid for combating many disorders affecting vision. Ounce of Prevention carries several pharmaceutical-grade, standardized bilberry extracts.
