Evidence supporting the use of: Bilberry
For the body system: Capillaries

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) has a long history of traditional use for supporting vascular health, particularly capillary integrity. The berries are rich in anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids with antioxidant properties that are thought to strengthen blood vessel walls, improve microcirculation, and reduce capillary fragility. Several clinical and preclinical studies have investigated these effects. A number of human trials (mostly small or of moderate quality) and animal studies suggest bilberry extracts can reduce symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, improve capillary resistance, and decrease symptoms such as edema and bruising. For instance, some studies have shown improvement in microvascular blood flow and reduced vascular permeability following supplementation with bilberry extracts or standardized anthocyanin mixtures. The proposed mechanism is anthocyanin-induced stabilization of collagen and protection of endothelial cells from oxidative stress. However, while the traditional use is strong and supported by some scientific evidence, large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are still limited. Thus, bilberry’s use for supporting the capillaries is best described as having moderate scientific support, with a foundation in both tradition and emerging evidence, but not yet reaching the highest level of scientific validation.

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