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Dietary supplement

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Puritan's Pride

Softgel Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg is a dietary supplement by Puritan's Pride with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eye and vision health, antioxidant support, diarrhea and digestive upset.Based on those ingredients, 275 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bilberry Fruit Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This softgel contains one active ingredient: bilberry fruit extract at 1000 mg per capsule. Bilberry is a small dark berry that's been studied for eye health and cognitive function.

The extract is suspended in soybean oil and enclosed in a gelatin capsule with glycerin, soy lecithin, caramel color, and beeswax.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Bilberry product and its label doesn't state a use — see Bilberry's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for bilberry extract's effectiveness is mixed and limited. For night vision, the data we hold rates it as possibly ineffective — meaning the evidence doesn't support the claim.

For age-related cognitive decline, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), atherosclerosis, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), we don't have enough reliable evidence to rate it one way or the other. If you're considering this for any of these uses, talk with your doctor about whether the evidence matches your goals.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bilberry fruit extract is generally well tolerated orally. The most common side effects are mild: dark-colored stools, flatulence, and stomach discomfort — some people even notice discoloration of their tongue or teeth.

In small studies, mild-to-moderate gas was reported in about a third of participants with ulcerative colitis, and temporary GI upset in about 13% of those in a cognitive study. That said, supplement safety data is limited, and long-term effects aren't well established.

The safety data we hold does not include pregnancy or breastfeeding information specific to supplement doses, though bilberry fruit as food is rated likely safe in pregnancy and lactation. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this if you're pregnant or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bilberry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 275 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your pharmacist or doctor if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (like warfarin or aspirin), diabetes medications, drugs broken down by the liver enzyme CYP2E1, or erlotinib (Tarceva). All of these carry a Moderate interaction risk with bilberry extract.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bilberry extract might appeal to you if you're looking to support eye health or thinking about brain aging, but the evidence for those uses is thin or mixed. The real reason to pause is if you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or certain cancer drugs — this supplement could interact with them.

Even if you don't take those, the long-term safety data is sparse. Check your exact medications with the tool on this page, and talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist before you start.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 23, 2023.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Puritan's Pride
Barcode (UPC) 074312114342
Net contents 90 Rapid Release Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 23, 2023
DSLD ID 286385
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
074312114342
IngredientAmount% DV
Bilberry Fruit Extract250 mg--

Other ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, natural Caramel color, yellow Beeswax

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

A close relative of blueberries, bilberry has been widely known to herbalists since the 16th century.

To Reorder Item # 1434 www.puritan.com 1-800-645-1030

Formulation

Our specialized formula provides bilberry in a concentrated form.

Concentrated Extract

No Artificial Flavor or Sweetener, No Sugar, No Starch, No Milk, No Lactose, No Gluten, No Wheat, No Yeast, No Fish. Sodium Free.

Precautions

WARNING: If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications or have any medical condition, consult your doctor before use.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if seal under cap is broken or missing.

Contains soy ingredients Contains bioengineered food ingredients

Storage

Store at room temperature

Brand IP Statement(s)

Copyright 2020 Puritan's Pride, Inc.

Seals/Symbols

QA Quality Assured

Formula

1000 mg Traditional Herb

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

DIRECTIONS: For adults, take one (1) softgel once or twice daily, preferably with meals.

See for yourself

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container90 Amounts shown are per serving.

Bilberry Fruit Extract

Interacts with
275 drugs
250 mg per serving

Bilberry is a blueberry-like fruit rich in antioxidant plant compounds called anthocyanins, and it has a long history of traditional use for eye healt...

Bilberry Fruit Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, Natural Caramel color, Yellow Beeswax. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
275Drugs
275 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bilberry Fruit Extract4 drug types · 275 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, animal, and clinical research suggest that anthocyanidin extracts from bilberry can inhibit platelet aggregation.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry leaf or fruit extract may increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that bilberry leaf extract might have blood glucose-lowering activity. Also, one small clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that taking bilberry fruit extract 470 mg as a single dose prior to an oral glucose tolerance test lowers plasma glucose levels when compared with placebo.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2E1 (Cyp2E1) Substrates

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
Animal research shows that exposure to small concentrations of bilberry extract in drinking water for around one month increased CYP2E1 activity by 31%. However, exposure over a 2-month period did not increase CYP2E1 activity. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Erlotinib (Tarceva)

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might reduce the efficacy of erlotinib.
In vitro research suggests that bilberry fruit extract and its constituents, delphinidin and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, inhibit the activity of erlotinib. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg, from the product label.

Puritan's Pride

See all Puritan's Pride products
Name
Puritan's Pride, Inc.
City
Ronkonkoma
State
NY
ZipCode
11779
Phone Number
1-800-645-1030
Web Address
www.puritan.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride: Common Questions

Does Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg by Puritan's Pride interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg has a known interaction with 275 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What exactly is bilberry fruit extract?
Bilberry is a small dark berry — similar to blueberry — and this product contains a concentrated extract of the fruit at 1000 mg per capsule. The extract concentrates the berry's active compounds, which is why it's more potent than eating fresh berries.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Bilberry fruit as food is rated likely safe during pregnancy and lactation. However, the safety data we have doesn't include information specific to supplement doses like this one. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant or nursing — they can weigh the evidence for your personal situation.
Will this help my night vision or age-related memory?
For night vision, the evidence we hold rates it as possibly ineffective — so that claim isn't well supported. For age-related memory and cognitive decline, there simply isn't enough reliable evidence to say either way. If you're interested in this for one of those reasons, ask your doctor what the current science actually shows.
What side effects should I expect?
Bilberry extract is generally well tolerated. The most common effects are mild: dark-colored or even dark-green stools, gas, and stomach discomfort. Some people notice their tongue or teeth may darken temporarily. These are not dangerous, just cosmetic or annoying.
Does this product have a lot of fillers?
The softgel capsule contains soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, soy lecithin, caramel color, and beeswax — these are the inactive ingredients that hold and protect the extract. Whether that matters to you depends on your diet and preferences, but there's nothing unusual there.
Is this safe to take long-term?
The safety data for bilberry extract as a supplement is limited, and long-term effects aren't well established. While the short-term side effects we see are mild, there's not enough evidence to say whether taking this regularly for months or years is safe. Your pharmacist can help you weigh that risk if you're thinking of using it long-term.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bilberry Fruit Extract 1000 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bilberry 14 references
  1. Cignarella A, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, Puglisi L. Novel lipid-lowering properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Thromb Res 1996;84:311-22. PubMed
  2. Morazzoni P, Magistretti MJ. Activity of Myrtocyan, an anthosyanoside complex from Vaccinium myrtillus (VMA), on platelet aggregation and adhesiveness. Fitoterapia 1990;61:13-21.
  3. Erlund, I., Koli, R., Alfthan, G., Marniemi, J., Puukka, P., Mustonen, P., Mattila, P., and Jula, A. Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87(2):323-331. PubMed
  4. Hawrelak, J. A. and Myers, S. P. Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(10):1065-1071. PubMed
  5. Morazzoni P and Magistretti MJ. Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on prostacyclin-like activity in rat arterial issue. Fitoterapia 1986;57:11-14.
  6. Pulliero G, Montin S, Bettini V, and et al. Ex vivo study of the inhibitory effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on human platelet aggregation. Fitoterapia 1989;60:69-75.
  7. Bottecchia D. Preliminary report on the inhibitory effect of vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on platelet aggregation and clot retraction. Fitoterapia 1987;48:3-8.
  8. Fdez, M., Zaragoza, F., and Alvarez, P. In vitro platelet aggregation effects of anthocyanosides of vaccinium myrtilus L. Anales de la Real Academia de Farmacia 1983;49:79-90.
  9. Biedermann L, Mwinyi J, Scharl M, Frei P, Zeitz J, Kullak-Ublick GA, et al. Bilberry ingestion improves disease activity in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis-an open pilot study. 2013 May;7(4):271-9. PubMed
  10. Hoggard N, Cruickshank M, Moar KM, Bestwick C, Holst J, Russell W, et al. A single supplement of a standardized bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract (36% wet weight anthocyanins) modifies glycaemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes control
  11. Aichinger G, Pahlke G, Nagel LJ, Berger W, Marko D. Bilberry extract, its major phenolic compounds, and soy isoflavone genistein antagonize the cytostatic drug erlotinib in human epithelial cells. Food Funct 2016;7(8):3628-36.
  12. Prokop J, Lněničková K, Cibicek N, et al. Effect of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2019;129:382-90. PubMed
  13. Chan SW, Chu TTW, Choi SW, Benzie IFF, Tomlinson B. Impact of short-term bilberry supplementation on glycemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and antioxidant status in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Phytother Res 2021. Online ahead o PubMed
  14. Bøhn SK, Myhrstad MCW, Thoresen M, et al. Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment -a randomized clinical trial. BMC Nutr 2021;7(1):75. PubMed

See these in context on the Bilberry monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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