Anthocyanoside benefit and review
February 1 2017

Anthocyanosides are the active molecules of certain plants, particularly bilberries. These molecules are made of a backbone known as anthocyanidin which is bound to one of three sugars: arabinose, glucose, or galactose. There are more than a dozen different anthocyanosides in the bilberry fruit.
   The body likes to be exposed to a variety of beneficial substances. As such it is a good idea to consume a wide range of berries each with its own different composition of beneficial substances.

Bilberry Extract, 80 mg, 60 Capsules
Bilberry Extract, also referred to as blueberry, is a potent extract yielding key bioflavonoids and antioxidants called anthocyanosides, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, and proanthocyanidins. A controlled extraction process guarantees at least 25% anthocyanosides.

Supplement Facts:
Bilberry Fruit Standardized Extract 80 mg
   (Vaccinium myrtillus)
   Yielding 20 mg anthocyanosides

Suggested Use: 1 bilberry capsule daily, or as recommended by your health care professional.

Bilberry and anthocyanosides
Anthocyanosides are the pharmacologically active constituents of bilberries. They consist of a backbone known as anthocyanidin which is bound to one of three sugars: arabinose, glucose, or galactose. Five different anthocyanidins in bilberry produce more than fifteen different anthocyanosides. The fresh bilberry fruit contains an anthocyanoside concentration of 0.1 to 0.25 percent. A concentrated bilberry extract however yields 25% anthocyanidin content, which corresponds to about 38% anthocyanosides.

Anthocyanoside benefit for vision, eyesight
Purified high-dose anthocyanoside oligomer administration improves nocturnal vision and clinical symptoms in myopia subjects.
Br J Nutr. 2005; Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of purified high-dose anthocyanoside oligomer administration on nocturnal visual function and clinical symptoms in low-to-moderate myopia subjects. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and involved sixty subjects with asthenopia and refractive errors between -1.00 and -8.00 diopters in both eyes. Thirty subjects were administered a purified high-dose anthocyanoside oligomer (100 mg tablet comprising 85 % anthocyanoside oligomer), and thirty were given a placebo in tablet form twice daily for 4 weeks. Prior to the treatment, the placebo and anthocyanoside groups were similar in terms of age and contrast sensitivity. Following treatment 73 % of anthocyanoside subjects showed improved symptoms, whereas only one placebo subject showed an improvement. The present data show that the administration of anthocyanoside oligomer appears to improve subjective symptoms and objective contrast sensitivity in myopia subjects with asthenopia.
   Note: Asthenopia or eye strain is a condition with symptoms such as fatigue, red eyes, eye strain, pain in or around the eyes, blurred vision, headache and occasional double vision. Symptoms often occur after reading, computer work, or other activities that involve tedious visual tasks.

Retina benefit
Bilberry and its main constituents have neuroprotective effects against retinal neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2009; Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Molecular Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan.
Our aim was to determine whether a Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) anthocyanoside and/or its main anthocyanidin constituents (cyanidin, delphinidin, and malvidin) can protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) against retinal damage in vitro and in vivo. Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) anthocyanoside and its anthocyanidins have neuroprotective effects (exerted at least in part via an anti-oxidation mechanism) in these in vitro and in vivo models of retinal diseases.

Bilberry benefit
The benefit of bilberry rests mostly on its ability to provide substances that are beneficial for eye health. Bilberry may benefit those who have macular degeneration or are predisposed to a cataract. Phenolic compounds in bilberry are of benefit as antioxidants.

Availability
Bilberry extract is available in a number of concentrations and extract potencies. These include 5 percent, 10 , 20 and 25 percent anthocyanosides.