Introduction:
The bilberry is related to the blueberry but the berries are smaller, darker in color and the bilberry plant is more difficult to grow compared to the blueberry. The plant thrives in acid soils much like blueberry plants, but the berries are formed in pairs as opposed to clusters like on blueberry plants. The bilberry has flavonoids, antioxidants, and beneficial plant pigments. Billberry is currently being researched in applications for treatment of macular degeneration, glaucoma, ulcerative colitis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, dementia, and allergies.
Bilberry and ulcerative colitis:
Individuals suffering from mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC, ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon) may benefit from anthocyanin-rich bilberry supplementation. After 6 weeks of patients (n=13) taking a daily anthocyanin-rich bilberry preparation, 63.4% and 90.9% of patients reported remission and showed a response, respectively. The Mayo score, which is used to assess UC activity such as stool frequency, rectal bleeding etc), also improved. Additionally, fecal calprotectin levels, which become elevated with UC, significantly decreased by an average of 473 μg/g from the start of the study to the end of treatment. The study was done on a small number of patients. The response of the UC to the bilberry supplement was measurable by fecal calprotectin levels but an increase in these levels and disease activity began after the supplement was stopped. No serious side-effects were reported. The study did not report the amount of bilberry ingestion. (1)
