Objective Benefits of bilberry extract or lutein to the eyes have been evaluated in clin. trials for healthy volunteers.However, the effect of simultaneous intake of bilberry extract and lutein has not been investigated.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous intake of bilberry extract and lutein on eye functions of healthy adults.Method We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clin. trial (UMIN 000028736) with forty healthy Japanese subjects aged from 20 to 47.The participants took either placebo or BL (120 mg of bilberry extract and 6 mg of lutein) for 12 wk.At week 0 and 12, HFC-1 scores measured before and after visual display terminal (VDT) load for 30 min.Serum lutein concentrations, macular pigment optical d. (MPOD), and contrast sensitivity (CS) were also evaluated.Results BL group showed a significant improvement on the variation in HFC-1 scores after VDT load between week 0 and 12, as compared to placebo group.Serum lutein concentrations, MPOD and CS were significantly increased in BL group compared with placebo group.No significant adverse events were observed in the study.Conclusion Our results suggest that simultaneous consumption of lutein and bilberry extract does not interfere with each other's clin. benefit of the eye.In addition the BL product seemed to be safe under the test conditions carried out.
