Alpine cranberry, anthocyanin, cowberry, cranberry, Ericaceae (family), evergreen, mountain cranberry, periwinkle leaf extracts, red berries, red bilberry, red whortleberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L, Vaccinium vitis-idaea cv. Amberland, Vaccinium vitis-idea.
Background
Lingonberry is a food native to Scandinavia. Lingonberry has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies.
Lingonberry has been used as a food and as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and wounds in Sweden.
Evidence
DISCLAIMER:
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) prevention:
Cranberry juice is commonly used to prevent and treat urinary tract infections. One clinical trial using a combination of cranberry and lingonberry juice found that this was more effective. Higher quality research comparing lingonberry juice or cranberry-lingonberry juice to cranberry juice alone is needed before a recommendation can be made.
Grade: C
Tradition
WARNING:
DISCLAIMER:
The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below. Anthelmintic (expels worms), antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitussive (cough suppressant), antiviral, cancer, expectorant (encourages coughing-up of mucus), food uses, male contraception, periodontal (gum) disease, viral encephalitis (tick-borne), wound healing.
Dosing
Adults (over 18 years old)
There is no proven safe or effective dose for lingonberry supplements in adults.
Children (under 18 years old)
There is no proven safe or effective dose for lingonberry supplements in children.
Safety
DISCLAIMER:
Many complementary techniques are practiced by healthcare professionals with formal training, in accordance with the standards of national organizations. However, this is not universally the case, and adverse effects are possible. Due to limited research, in some cases only limited safety information is available.
Allergies
Avoid in individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) or its constituents.
Side Effects and Warnings
Lingonberry is likely safe when used in food amounts.
Lingonberry may not be safe in male patients in couples who are trying to become pregnant.
There are few adverse effects associated with lingonberry reported in the available literature. However, one animal study indicates that Vaccinium vitis leaf extract may have adverse effects on the male reproductive system.
Vaccinium vitis leaf extract may have negative effects on fertility. Lingonberry should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women due to a lack of available scientific evidence.
Interactions
Interactions with Drugs
Extracts from dry red bilberry fruit (Vaccinium vitisidaea L.) may expel or destroy intestinal worms. Use cautiously with medications that expel worms (anthelmintics), due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have antibacterial effects. Use cautiously with antibiotic medications, due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have anti-inflammatory effects.
Lingonberry may have anti-cancer (antineoplastic) effects. Use cautiously in patients taking medications for the prevention or treatment of cancer, due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have antioxidant activity.
Lingonberry may interact with cough suppressant medications; use cautiously.
Aqueous (water) extracts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea berries may have antiviral activity. Use cautiously with antiviral medications, due to possible additive effects.
Vaccinium vitis leaf extract may have negative effects on the reproductive system. Caution is advised in males who are part of couples trying to become pregnant.
Extracts from dry red bilberry fruit (Vaccinium vitisidaea L.) may expel or destroy intestinal worms. Use cautiously with herbs and supplements that expel worms (anthelmintics), due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have antibacterial effects. Use cautiously with herbs and supplements with antibacterial activity, due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have anti-inflammatory effects.
Lingonberry may have anti-cancer (antineoplastic) activity; use cautiously with herbs and supplement used to prevent or treat cancer, due to possible additive effects.
Lingonberry may have antioxidant activity.
Lingonberry may interact with herbs and supplements taken as cough suppressants.
Aqueous (water) extracts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea berries may have antiviral activity. Use cautiously with herbs and supplements with antiviral activity, due to possible additive effects.
Vaccinium vitis leaf extract may have negative effects on the reproductive system. Caution is advised in males who are part of couples trying to become pregnant.
Attribution
This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature, and was peer-reviewed and edited by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com): Ashley Brigham, PharmD (Northeastern University); Dawn Costa, BA, BS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Nicole Giese, MS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Tera Stock, PharmD (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences); Shaina Tanguay-Colucci, BS (Natural Standard Research Collaboration); Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD (Massachusetts General Hospital); Wendy Weissner, BA (Natural Standard Research Collaboration).
Bibliography
DISCLAIMER:
Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.
Ehala S, Vaher M, Kaljurand M. Characterization of phenolic profiles of Northern European berries by capillary electrophoresis and determination of their antioxidant activity. J Agric Food Chem 8-10-2005;53(16):6484-6490.
Ek S, Kartimo H, Mattila S, et al. Characterization of phenolic compounds from lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). J Agric Food Chem 12-27-2006;54(26):9834-9842.
Eriksson NE, Moller C, Werner S, et al. Self-reported food hypersensitivity in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russia. J Investig.Allergol.Clin Immunol 2004;14(1):70-79.
Erlund I, Freese R, Marniemi J, et al. Bioavailability of quercetin from berries and the diet. Nutr Cancer 2006;54(1):13-17.
Ho KY, Tsai CC, Huang JS, et al. Antimicrobial activity of tannin components from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53(2):187-191.
Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig J. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev 2004;(1):CD001321.
Kallio H, Nieminen R, Tuomasjukka S, et al. Cutin composition of five finnish berries. J Agric Food Chem 1-25-2006;54(2):457-462.
Kontiokari T, Sundqvist K, Nuutinen M, et al. Randomised trial of cranberry-lingonberry juice and Lactobacillus GG drink for the prevention of urinary tract infections in women. BMJ 6-30-2001;322(7302):1571.
Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ. Effect of 4-methylpyrazole on endogenous plasma ethanol and methanol levels in humans. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2001;25(4):513-516.
Sun H, Wang X, Huang R, et al. [Determination of arbutin in the herbs of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. by RP-HPLC]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 1997;22(9):555.
Viljanen K, Kylli P, Kivikari R, et al. Inhibition of protein and lipid oxidation in liposomes by berry phenolics. J Agric Food Chem 12-1-2004;52(24):7419-7424.
Wang SY, Feng R, Bowman L, et al. Antioxidant activity in lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and its inhibitory effect on activator protein-1, nuclear factor-kappaB, and mitogen-activated protein kinases activation. J Agric Food Chem 4-20-2005;53(8):3156-3166.
Wang X, Sun H, Fan Y, et al. Analysis and bioactive evaluation of the compounds absorbed into blood after oral administration of the extracts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea in rat. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005;28(6):1106-1108.
Wu QK, Koponen JM, Mykkanen HM, et al. Berry phenolic extracts modulate the expression of p21(WAF1) and Bax but not Bcl-2 in HT-29 colon cancer cells. J Agric Food Chem 2-21-2007;55(4):1156-1163.
Zheng W, Wang SY. Oxygen radical absorbing capacity of phenolics in blueberries, cranberries, chokeberries, and lingonberries. J Agric Food Chem 1-15-2003;51(2):502-509.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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