Science builds for bilberry extracts kidney benefits

31-Jan-2008 - Extracts from bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) may protect the kidney from the damaging effects of potassium bromate, suggests a new study with mice.

Animals fed a daily dose of the extract for five days and given a single dose of potassium bromate (KBrO3) showed lower levels of markers of oxidative stress and kidney damage than control animals, reports the study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

"The protective effects of anthocyanin-enriched bilberry extract on KBrO3-induced kidney damage is due to an increased antioxidative capacity of kidney tissue," wrote lead author Li Bao from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China.

According to background information in the article, KBrO3 has been used as a food additive such as in the bread-making process, and is also an oxidising agent found in drinking water as a disinfection by-product. Moreover, there have been concerns raised from its discovery in bottles of mineral water both in the US and in Europe.

However, the chemical has been reported to cause clinical intoxications, which can result in severe and irreversible hearing loss and also has been linked to kidney damage and renal tumours. It is reported to cause the formation of free radicals, which induce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to the ageing process and several chronic diseases.

The Chinese researchers administered doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bilberry extracts (Mirtoselect, Indena) over five days. A single dose of potassium bromate (200 mg/kg) was also administered to induce serious kidney damage.

After receiving the bilberry extracts the mice exhibited a reversal in blood levels blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine to normal levels. In addition, a decrease in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidneys, nitric oxide (NO), and xanthine oxidase (XOD) were reported.

"The present finding is the first report on the effect of anthocyanin-enriched bilberry extract (42 per cent of anthocyanins) on serum BUN and creatinine levels in mice treated with KBrO3," wrote Bao.

The antioxidant activity increased in kidney tissue, as measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) levels, stated the researchers showing a reduction in the level of oxidative stress.

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