LINGONBERRY: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Lingonberry is a plant. The leaves and berries are used to make medicine.

Lingonberry is used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, gout, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, lingonberry berries are used in jams, syrups, baked goods, and juice.

Lingonberry leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for bearberry (uva ursi) leaves. Don't confuse lingonberry for uva ursi, cranberry, or cramp bark.

How does it work ?

Lingonberry has chemicals that might help kill bacteria. It also contains chemicals that can help with inflammation (swelling).

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

Infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs). Some research in women and girls 3-12 years of age with a history of UTIs shows that drinking 50 mL of a cranberry and lingonberry juice daily for 6 months can reduce the chance of getting more UTIs.
Common cold.
Dental conditions.
Gout.
Kidney stones.
Osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Other Conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of lingonberry for these uses.

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Lingonberry concentrate is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately. A drink containing cranberry and lingonberry concentrate has been used safely for up to 6 months. Lingonberry juice and berries contain chemicals called tannins, which might cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting in some people. Children: Lingonberry concentrate is POSSIBLY SAFE for children when taken by mouth appropriately. A drink containing cranberry and lingonberry concentrate has been used safely for up to 6 months. Lingonberry is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for children when used long-term. It might damage the liver.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use lingonberry if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Lingonberry contains chemicals that might cause genetic changes and harm to the fetus.

Liver disease: There are chemicals in lingonberry that might make liver disease worse.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for LINGONBERRY overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of lingonberry depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for alpine cranberry. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Ferrara, P., Romaniello, L., Vitelli, O., Gatto, A., Serva, M., and Cataldi, L. Cranberry juice for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized controlled trial in children. Scand.J Urol.Nephrol. 2009;43(5):369-372. View abstract.

FESZT, G. and BERCZI, I. [DATA ON THE ANTI-GONADOTROPIC EFFECT OF PERIWINKLE LEAF EXTRACTS (VACCINIUM VITIS IDAEA L.) IN THE MALE RANA ESCULENTA.]. Stud.Cercet.Endocrinol. 1965;16:39-43. View abstract.

Fokina, G. I., Roikhel', V. M., Frolova, M. P., Frolova, T. V., and Pogodina, V. V. [The antiviral action of medicinal plant extracts in experimental tick-borne encephalitis]. Vopr.Virusol. 1993;38(4):170-173. View abstract.

Ho, K. Y., Tsai, C. C., Huang, J. S., Chen, C. P., Lin, T. C., and Lin, C. C. Antimicrobial activity of tannin components from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001;53(2):187-191. View abstract.

Jepson, R. G., Mihaljevic, L., and Craig, J. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev 2004;(1):CD001321. View abstract.

Kallio, H., Nieminen, R., Tuomasjukka, S., and Hakala, M. Cutin composition of five finnish berries. J Agric Food Chem 1-25-2006;54(2):457-462. View abstract.

Lorek, E. [Contents of manganese and vitamin C in the fruits of bilberriers and red berries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and red berries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) growing in highly industrialized areas]. Rocz.Panstw.Zakl.Hig. 1978;29(4):381-387. View abstract.

MALINOWSKI, H. [Wormicide activity of extracts from the dry fruit of black bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus l.), red bilberries (Vaccinium vitis idaea L.) and marsh cranberries (Oxycoccus quadripetalus Gilib.) on (Enchytraeus albidus)]. World Wide.Abstr.Gen.Med 1961;7(2)Suppl:507-509. View abstract.

Sun, H., Wang, X., Huang, R., and Yuan, C. [Determination of arbutin in the herbs of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. by RP-HPLC]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 1997;22(9):555. View abstract.

Thieme, H., Winkler, H. J., and Frenzel, H. [On the isolation of 4-hydroxyphenyl-beta-gentiobioside from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L]. Pharmazie 1969;24(4):236-237. View abstract.

Viljanen, K., Kylli, P., Kivikari, R., and Heinonen, M. Inhibition of protein and lipid oxidation in liposomes by berry phenolics. J Agric Food Chem 12-1-2004;52(24):7419-7424. View abstract.

Wang, S. Y., Feng, R., Bowman, L., Penhallegon, R., Ding, M., and Lu, Y. 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. View abstract.

Wang, X., Sun, H., Fan, Y., Li, L., Makino, T., and Kano, Y. 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. View abstract.

Wu, Q. K., Koponen, J. M., Mykkanen, H. M., and Torronen, A. R. 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. View abstract.

Zheng, W. and Wang, S. Y. Oxygen radical absorbing capacity of phenolics in blueberries, cranberries, chokeberries, and lingonberries. J Agric Food Chem 1-15-2003;51(2):502-509. View abstract.

Erlund I, Freese R, Marniemi J, et al. Bioavailability of quercetin from berries and the diet. Nutr Cancer 2006;54:13-7. View abstract.

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 2001;322:1571. View abstract.

Pärnnen P, Nikula-Ijs P, Sorsa T. Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Lingonberry Mouthwash - A Clinical Pilot Study in the Oral Cavity. Microorganisms. 2019;7(9):331. View abstract.

Ehala, S., Vaher, M., and 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. View abstract.

Ek, S., Kartimo, H., Mattila, S., and Tolonen, A. Characterization of phenolic compounds from lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea). J Agric Food Chem 12-27-2006;54(26):9834-9842. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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LINGONBERRY - Uses, Side Effects, and More