Bilberry Extract
Also known as: Vaccinium myrtillus, European blueberry, Mirtoselect, bilberry anthocyanins, anthocyanosides
Bilberry is a European relative of the blueberry whose fruit is rich in anthocyanins, the purple pigments studied for eye and vascular support. Standardized extracts, typically 25% anthocyanins or 36% anthocyanosides, are used in eye-strain, night-vision, and circulation formulas. A 12-week RCT of 240 mg standardized extract reported improved ciliary-muscle findings after screen work. It is a staple of eye-health blends and is often combined with lutein.
Research summary
Anthocyanins act as antioxidants and are thought to support retinal blood flow and rhodopsin regeneration.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of extract.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 80–320 mg | — | — |
A standardized extract at 240 mg once daily was used for 12 weeks in the screen-fatigue RCT. Market products range roughly 80–320 mg of 25% anthocyanin extract, sometimes split into two doses. Older night-vision trials were mixed, with negative results linked to lower doses. The 320 mg market ceiling is not itself trial-derived; 240 mg is the verified trial dose.
Standardization: 25% anthocyanins (or 36% anthocyanosides, Mirtoselect-type)
Source material: fruit extract
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Tart, astringent, and deeply colored; workable in gummies and liquids. Anthocyanins degrade with heat, moisture, and high pH.
Formulation notes
Anthocyanins are pH-sensitive; keep away from alkaline minerals in liquids.
Sources
- 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, 2020)PubMed
- Anthocyanosides of Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) for night vision--a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials. (Canter, 2004)PubMed
Related ingredients
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AntioxidantCoenzyme Q10 in its oxidized form, ubiquinone, is the standard, most-studied CoQ10 ingredient.
Typical: 100–300 mg
Green Tea Extract (50% EGCG)
BotanicalA leaf extract of Camellia sinensis concentrated for catechins, especially EGCG, with a small amount of naturally occurring caffeine.
Typical: 300–500 mg
Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopheryl Succinate)
VitaminThe succinate ester of natural (RRR or d-) alpha-tocopherol, the one vitamin E form the body maintains in plasma and the form on which the RDA is based.
Typical: 67–268 mg
Lutein
AntioxidantLutein is a yellow xanthophyll carotenoid that concentrates in the macula of the eye, where it filters blue light and quenches reactive oxygen species.
Typical: 10–20 mg
Trans-Resveratrol
AntioxidantTrans-resveratrol is a stilbene polyphenol found in grape skin, red wine, and, in far higher concentration, Japanese knotweed root, which is the usual commercial source.
Typical: 150–500 mg