Home Ingredients Lingonberry

Lingonberry

Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Evidence Level
Limited
8 Clinical Trials
6 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), also called cowberry, is a small red berry that is mostly wild harvested in northern Europe and sold as whole or dried berries, juice, powder and extract capsules. It is rich in polyphenols, mainly the anthocyanin cyanidin-3-galactoside, proanthocyanidins, and quercetin glycosides. In meal tests, whole lingonberries or lingonberry nectar eaten with bread or sugar lowered the insulin response. Longer human trials used lingonberry only in blends: an open trial of a mostly cranberry juice concentrate with some lingonberry found fewer repeat urinary tract infections in women than no treatment, and a skin trial combined lingonberry extract with amla. Mouth rinse studies of fermented lingonberry juice were small and mostly uncontrolled. No trial of lingonberry alone has measured a health outcome over weeks against a control.

Studied Dose Meal tests used 150 g of whole berries as puree or 300 mL of nectar with a sugar or bread load. A women's trial used 50 mL a day of a mostly cranberry juice concentrate for 6 months; a skin trial used 25 or 50 mg of extract with amla daily for 12 weeks.
Active Compound Polyphenols: anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-galactoside makes up about 82% of the anthocyanins in wild berries), proanthocyanidins (both A-type and B-type, about 260 to 279 mg per 100 g of fresh fruit), quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, catechin and epicatechin. Content varies with region, ripeness and processing.

Benefits

Insulin response when eaten with bread or sugar

In randomized crossover meal tests in healthy adults, 150 g of whole lingonberries or 300 mL of lingonberry nectar eaten with sugar or white bread lowered the insulin response, with little or no effect on the blood sugar rise itself. These are single-meal blood measures in food amounts, not effects of daily use.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 4

Blood sugar after a glucose load with lingonberry powder

In healthy men, lingonberry powder added to a yogurt with 50 g of glucose did not raise blood glucose more than the plain meal even though it added sugar, which the researchers credit to its fiber and polyphenols. With a fat load instead, the powder did not lower blood fat and glucose and insulin tended to be higher.

Supported by Trial 6, Trial 3

Urinary tract health with a cranberry and lingonberry juice blend

In an open randomized trial, women who drank 50 mL a day of a juice concentrate that was mostly cranberry with some lingonberry for 6 months had fewer repeat infections than women given nothing. In children, a similar blend changed urinary bacteria versus placebo juice. Neither study tested lingonberry on its own.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Cholesterol and antioxidant markers in berry diets

Men who ate 100 g a day of bilberries, lingonberries or blackcurrants for 8 weeks had higher blood vitamin C, but LDL oxidation and antioxidant capacity did not change significantly. A 5 week multi-berry drink, about one ninth lingonberry, lowered LDL cholesterol versus a control drink. Blood lipids are markers, and lingonberry was only part of each diet.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 4

Skin elasticity with a lingonberry and amla extract drink

In a 12 week placebo-controlled trial run by a cosmetics company, 99 healthy women who drank 25 or 50 mg of lingonberry extract combined with amla extract each day had dose-related gains in skin elasticity, thickness and water content. Because amla was in the same drink, the result cannot be credited to lingonberry alone.

Supported by Trial 8

Plaque and gum measures with a fermented lingonberry mouth rinse

Adults who rinsed daily with fermented lingonberry juice for 6 months had less plaque, gum bleeding and S. mutans in an uncontrolled study. In a small controlled study around dental implants, the changes did not differ from no rinse. These studies tested rinsing, not swallowing lingonberry, and involved the product's inventor.

Supported by Trial 7

Mechanism of action

1

Less insulin needed for the same meal

When whole lingonberries were eaten with sugar or white bread, insulin rose less while blood sugar changed little, which the researchers read as less insulin being needed to handle the meal, possibly through slower digestion. That was shown with 150 g of whole berries or nectar, not with a concentrated extract.

2

Proanthocyanidins and urinary bacteria

Lingonberry contains both A-type and B-type proanthocyanidins, and in an analysis of wild Alaskan berries the B-type forms outnumbered the A-type ones. When women drank a cranberry and lingonberry juice for 2 weeks, E. coli grown in their urine in the laboratory did not form less biofilm, so how the blend might act is unclear.

3

Shifts in mouth bacteria during rinsing

During 6 months of daily rinsing with fermented lingonberry juice, counts of S. mutans and Candida fell and lactobacilli rose, but the study had no control group. Whether swallowed lingonberry products affect mouth bacteria has not been tested.

Clinical trials

1
Cranberry and lingonberry juice concentrate and repeat urinary tract infections in women
PubMed

Open randomized controlled trial with 12 months of follow up; 50 mL a day of cranberry-lingonberry juice concentrate (7.5 g cranberry and 1.7 g lingonberry concentrate, no added sugar) for 6 months versus a Lactobacillus GG drink or no intervention; no placebo drink; recruitment stopped early at 50 of a planned 70 per group because the juice went out of production; funded by Finnish foundations, juice supplied by its maker Marli, no competing interests declared (Kontiokari et al. 2001, BMJ)

150 Finnish women, mostly university students and hospital staff, who had just had an E. coli urinary tract infection; 50 per group, 13 dropped out.

The primary outcome, first symptomatic culture-confirmed recurrence, differed between groups over 12 months (P = 0.048). At 6 months 8 women (16%) on the juice had a recurrence versus 18 (36%) with no intervention, an absolute difference of 20% (95% CI 3% to 36%). Lactobacillus did not help. Apart from complaints about bitter taste, no adverse events were reported. Cranberry made up most of the concentrate.

2
Cranberry and lingonberry juice and the urinary and gut microbiome in children
PubMed

Randomized trial versus a sugar-matched placebo juice, registered as NCT01861353; juice of 12.8% cranberry and 12.4% lingonberry with added sugar, 5 mL/kg a day up to 300 mL, for 6 months, made and donated by Eckes-Granini; the registered primary outcome was the microbiome (Hakkola et al. 2023, APMIS)

113 Finnish children treated for a urinary tract infection, with the juice started during the acute infection.

At 3 months the juice group had less Proteobacteria (p = 0.03) and more Firmicutes (p = 0.04) in urine than the placebo group. E. coli made up 6% versus 13% of urinary bacteria (p = 0.42, not significant), and microbiome diversity did not differ. The abstract does not report infection recurrences, which were registered secondary outcomes.

3
Whole lingonberries or nectar eaten with sugar: single-meal glucose and insulin test
PubMed

Randomized controlled crossover meal study; 150 g of whole lingonberries or blackcurrants as puree, or 300 mL of their nectars, each with 35 g sucrose, versus 35 g sucrose in water; blood sampled for 2 hours (Törrönen et al. 2012, Am J Clin Nutr)

20 healthy women.

The abstract reports blackcurrants and lingonberries together: with whole berries, glucose and insulin were lower in the first 30 minutes, the later decline was slower and the glycemic profile improved, and nectars gave nearly similar effects. The authors later reported that lingonberry nectar did not change the early glucose rise in this study and that lingonberries mainly lowered insulin. These are single-meal blood markers.

4
Lingonberry puree eaten with white bread: single-meal glucose and insulin test
PubMed

Three randomized controlled crossover meal studies; white or rye bread with 50 g available starch eaten with 150 g of berry puree or alone; lingonberry was tested with white bread in study 1 (Törrönen et al. 2013, J Nutr)

Healthy women, 13 to 20 per study.

Lingonberry puree significantly reduced the insulin response to white bread, but did not significantly improve the glycemic profile; only strawberries and a berry blend did. These are single-meal blood markers.

5
Lingonberry nectar with glucose and fructose: single-meal test
PubMed

Randomized controlled crossover study, registered as NCT02743130; 300 mL of lingonberry or blackcurrant nectar, or water, each with 17.5 g glucose and 17.5 g fructose; nectars supplied by Eckes-Granini; funded by Finnsugar Ltd, which employed one author (Törrönen et al. 2017, J Nutr Sci)

18 healthy volunteers.

Lingonberry nectar reduced the insulin response compared with the sugar drink (the maximum rise was 21% smaller) but had no significant effect on blood glucose, the registered primary outcome; only blackcurrant nectar attenuated the early glucose rise. These are single-meal blood markers.

6
Lingonberry powder with a glucose or fat load: single-meal test
PubMed

Two postprandial crossover studies; fat-free yogurt with 50 g glucose or 35 g fat, with or without a commercial lingonberry powder (Linderborg et al. 2012, Nutr Res)

Healthy normal-weight men.

With glucose, blood glucose did not differ between meals even though the lingonberry meal contained more sugar. With fat, the powder did not lower the blood fat response after the meal, and there were indications of higher glucose and insulin responses.

7
Fermented lingonberry juice mouth rinse around dental implants
PubMed

Controlled pilot study; 10 mL of fermented lingonberry juice (Lingora) as a mouth rinse twice a day for 15 days versus no mouthwash, then 15 days without rinse; one author holds the patent and trademark for the product (Lähteenmäki et al. 2022, Clin Exp Dent Res)

20 adults with at least one dental implant, 10 per group.

Active MMP-8, visible plaque and bleeding on probing fell within the rinse group, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group, and the differences shrank after rinsing stopped. A mouth rinse, not a swallowed supplement.

8
Lingonberry and amla extract drink and skin elasticity
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial; a daily drink with 25 mg lingonberry extract and 30 mg amla fruit extract, double that amount, or placebo, for 12 weeks; all authors from the Shiseido Global Innovation Center (Uchiyama et al. 2019, Biotechnol Appl Biochem)

99 healthy women.

Skin elasticity, the primary outcome, improved in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01), as did skin thickness, stratum corneum water content and eye wrinkles (P < 0.001). The extract was combined with amla, so no result can be credited to lingonberry alone.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

In a 6 month trial of 50 mL a day of cranberry-lingonberry juice concentrate in women, no adverse events were reported apart from occasional complaints about its bitter taste. Mouth rinse studies of fermented lingonberry juice reported no side effects.
Allergy to lingonberry can occur: a published case report describes an allergic reaction in which skin testing and IgE testing supported lingonberry as the cause.
Lingonberry juices and nectars often contain added sugar: the juice in the children's trial had 10 g of added sugar per 100 mL. Check the label if you are limiting sugar.
Berry supplements are not always what the label says: in a laboratory survey, 14 of 45 cranberry, lingonberry, bilberry and blueberry supplements did not contain the listed fruit. Choose products with third-party testing.
None of the studies cited here tested lingonberry supplements in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Ask your doctor before use.

Important Drug interactions

Medicines broken down by liver CYP enzymes: in 11 healthy volunteers, lingonberry powder taken three times a day for 9 days did not change the activity of any of the CYP enzymes tested with index drugs.
Diabetes medicines: lingonberries eaten with bread or sugar lowered the insulin response in meal tests in healthy adults. Effects with diabetes medicines have not been studied, so checking blood sugar is sensible if you combine them.

Standardized & branded forms of Lingonberry

Trademarked forms of Lingonberry with their own profiles on NutraSmarts. Results from one branded form do not automatically carry over to another, so check each profile for the studies run on that specific product:

LingonMax® (Patented Lingonberry Extract for Skin + Antioxidant — BGG World)
LingonMax® is BGG World's extract of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) fruit, made from…

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Frequently asked questions about Lingonberry

What is lingonberry, and how is it taken as a supplement?

Lingonberry, or cowberry, is a small red berry of the same genus as cranberry and bilberry, mostly gathered wild in northern Europe. It is eaten as jam, juice and dried fruit and sold as powder and extract capsules. Most human studies used whole berries, nectar or juice in food amounts rather than capsules.

Does lingonberry support urinary tract health the way cranberry does?

It has not been tested alone. The positive trial in women used a juice concentrate that was mostly cranberry with some lingonberry, and the children's trial of a similar blend reported changes in urinary bacteria. Results from cranberry products do not show what lingonberry alone does. Anyone with urinary symptoms should see a clinician.

Does lingonberry affect blood sugar after a meal?

In meal tests in healthy adults, 150 g of whole lingonberries or 300 mL of nectar eaten with sugar or white bread lowered the insulin response, with little or no effect on the blood sugar rise itself. These were single meals. No trial has tested whether taking lingonberry daily changes blood sugar control over weeks.

Is lingonberry safe?

It is a common food in Scandinavia. The 6 month juice trial in women reported no adverse events beyond complaints about bitter taste, and the rinse studies reported no side effects. Allergy has been reported in one case. Juices can contain added sugar, and some berry supplements have been found not to contain the fruit on the label. Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How is generic lingonberry different from LingonMax?

LingonMax is a branded lingonberry extract sold with stated levels of resveratrol, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins and studied at 100 mg a day for skin. Generic lingonberry products range from whole berry powder to juice and unstandardized extracts, and most human data on them come from food amounts of the berries.

What is Lingonberry?

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), also called cowberry, is a small red berry that is mostly wild harvested in northern Europe and sold as whole or dried berries, juice, powder and extract capsules. It is rich in polyphenols, mainly the anthocyanin cyanidin-3-galactoside, proanthocyanidins, and quercetin glycosides.

What is Lingonberry used for?

NutraSmarts does not list Lingonberry under a health category. What the research covers: In randomized crossover meal tests in healthy adults, 150 g of whole lingonberries or 300 mL of lingonberry nectar eaten with sugar or white bread lowered the insulin response, with little or no effect on the blood sugar rise itself.

What is the recommended dosage of Lingonberry?

The clinically studied dose is Meal tests used 150 g of whole berries as puree or 300 mL of nectar with a sugar or bread load. A women's trial used 50 mL a day of a mostly cranberry juice concentrate for 6 months; a skin trial used 25 or 50 mg of extract with amla daily for 12 weeks. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Does Lingonberry interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Medicines broken down by liver CYP enzymes: in 11 healthy volunteers, lingonberry powder taken three times a day for 9 days did not change the activity of any of the CYP enzymes tested with index drugs. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Lingonberry?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Lingonberry as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 8 study summaries and 16 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(16 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Kontiokari T, Sundqvist K, Nuutinen M, Pokka T, Koskela M, Uhari M. Randomised trial of cranberry-lingonberry juice and Lactobacillus GG drink for the prevention of urinary tract infections in women. BMJ. 2001;322(7302):1571. doi: 10.1136/bmj.322.7302.1571.PubMedUsed to support: Open randomized controlled trial in 150 Finnish women who had just had an E. coli urinary tract infection: 50 mL a day of cranberry-lingonberry juice concentrate (Maija, Marli; 7.5 g cranberry and 1.7 g lingonberry concentrate, no added sugar) for 6 months, a Lactobacillus GG drink, or no intervention, with 12 months of follow up. The primary outcome, first symptomatic culture-confirmed recurrence, differed between groups over 12 months (P = 0.048); at 6 months 16% of the juice group, 39% of the Lactobacillus group and 36% of the no-intervention group had a recurrence (absolute difference 20%, 95% CI 3% to 36%). Not blinded and no placebo drink; funded by three Finnish foundations, juice supplied by its maker Marli, no competing interests declared; recruitment stopped early (50 of a planned 70 per group) when the juice went out of production. Cranberry made up most of the concentrate, so the result cannot be credited to lingonberry alone.
  2. Hakkola M, Vehviläinen P, Muotka J, Tejesvi MV, Pokka T, Vähäsarja P, Hanni AM, Renko M, Uhari M, Salo J, Tapiainen T. Cranberry-lingonberry juice affects the gut and urinary microbiome in children - a randomized controlled trial. APMIS. 2023;131(3):112-124. doi: 10.1111/apm.13292.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized trial (registered as NCT01861353) in 113 Finnish children with a urinary tract infection who drank cranberry-lingonberry juice or a sugar-matched placebo juice for 6 months. Per the registry the juice held 12.8% cranberry and 12.4% lingonberry with 10 g/dL added sugar, dosed at 5 mL/kg a day up to 300 mL, and was made and donated by Eckes-Granini. The registered primary outcome was the gut and urinary microbiome: the juice group had less Proteobacteria (p = 0.03) and more Firmicutes (p = 0.04) in urine at 3 months; E. coli abundance (6% versus 13%, p = 0.42) and microbiome diversity did not differ. The abstract does not report infection recurrences, which were registered secondary outcomes.
  3. Tapiainen T, Jauhiainen H, Jaakola L, Salo J, Sevander J, Ikäheimo I, Pirttilä AM, Hohtola A, Uhari M. Biofilm formation and virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in urine after consumption of cranberry-lingonberry juice. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012;31(5):655-62. doi: 10.1007/s10096-011-1355-2.PubMedUsed to support: Ex vivo study: 20 healthy women drank 100 mL a day of cranberry-lingonberry juice for 2 weeks, and their urine was used to grow 20 clinical E. coli strains in the laboratory. Four strains formed more biofilm in urine after the juice and one formed less; virulence gene expression did not differ except one gene in one strain. The authors conclude the juice's effect is not explained by reduced biofilm formation or virulence gene expression.
  4. Törrönen R, Kolehmainen M, Sarkkinen E, Mykkänen H, Niskanen L. Postprandial glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid responses to sucrose consumed with blackcurrants and lingonberries in healthy women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;96(3):527-33. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.042184.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized controlled crossover meal study in 20 healthy women. Compared with 35 g of sucrose alone, sucrose eaten with 150 g of whole blackcurrants or lingonberries lowered glucose and insulin in the first 30 minutes, slowed the later decline and gave a significantly improved glycemic profile; berry nectars gave nearly similar effects. The authors attribute this to slower digestion of sucrose. The abstract reports the two berries together; the authors' 2017 paper states that here lingonberry nectar had no effect on the early glucose response and that lingonberries mainly lowered insulin, with little or no effect on glucose. Whole berries and nectars, not an extract.
  5. Törrönen R, Kolehmainen M, Sarkkinen E, Poutanen K, Mykkänen H, Niskanen L. Berries reduce postprandial insulin responses to wheat and rye breads in healthy women. J Nutr. 2013;143(4):430-6. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.169771.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized controlled crossover meal studies in healthy women (13 to 20 per study). White bread eaten with 150 g of lingonberry puree significantly reduced the insulin response compared with bread alone, but lingonberries did not significantly improve the glycemic profile; only strawberries and a berry blend did. Whole berries, not an extract.
  6. Törrönen R, Hellström J, Mattila P, Kilpi K. Postprandial glycaemic response to berry nectars containing inverted sucrose. J Nutr Sci. 2017;6:e4. doi: 10.1017/jns.2016.44.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized controlled crossover study in 18 healthy volunteers (registered as NCT02743130). Compared with a water drink containing 17.5 g glucose and 17.5 g fructose, 300 mL of lingonberry nectar with the same sugars reduced the insulin response but had no significant effect on glucose, the registered primary outcome; blackcurrant nectar attenuated the early glucose response. Nectars were supplied by Eckes-Granini; the study was funded by Finnsugar Ltd, which employed one author.
  7. Linderborg KM, Järvinen R, Lehtonen HM, Viitanen M, Kallio HP. The fiber and/or polyphenols present in lingonberries null the glycemic effect of the sugars present in the berries when consumed together with added glucose in healthy human volunteers. Nutr Res. 2012;32(7):471-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2012.06.004.PubMedUsed to support: Two crossover meal studies in healthy normal-weight men. Adding a commercial lingonberry powder to a fat-free yogurt with 50 g glucose did not change the blood glucose response even though the berry meal contained more sugar, which the authors attribute to the berries' fiber and/or polyphenols. With 35 g of added fat instead of sugar, the powder did not lower blood fat after the meal, and there were indications of higher glucose and insulin responses.
  8. Marniemi J, Hakala P, Mäki J, Ahotupa M. Partial resistance of low density lipoprotein to oxidation in vivo after increased intake of berries. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2000;10(6):331-7..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized trial in healthy 60-year-old men, 20 per group: 100 g a day of frozen bilberries, lingonberries or blackcurrants, a vitamin E plus vitamin C supplement, or a calcium control, for 8 weeks. Serum vitamin C rose with berries, but LDL diene conjugation (p = 0.074) and total serum antioxidant capacity (p = 0.084) changes were not significant. The authors conclude effects of berries on these measures appear small.
  9. Nilsson A, Salo I, Plaza M, Björck I. Effects of a mixed berry beverage on cognitive functions and cardiometabolic risk markers; A randomized cross-over study in healthy older adults. PLoS One. 2017;12(11):e0188173. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188173.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized crossover trial in 40 healthy adults aged 50 to 70 who drank, for 5 weeks each, a beverage made from 150 g blueberries, 50 g blackcurrant, 50 g elderberry, 50 g lingonberries, 50 g strawberry and 100 g tomatoes, or a matched control drink. Total and LDL cholesterol fell versus control and working memory was better, but blood pressure, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress markers did not change significantly. Lingonberry was about one ninth of the mixture, so no result can be credited to it. Registered as NCT01562392; no competing interests declared.
  10. Uchiyama T, Tsunenaga M, Miyanaga M, Ueda O, Ogo M. Oral intake of lingonberry and amla fruit extract improves skin conditions in healthy female subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 2019;66(5):870-879. doi: 10.1002/bab.1800.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 99 healthy women: a daily drink with 25 mg lingonberry extract and 30 mg amla fruit extract, double that amount, or placebo, for 12 weeks. Skin elasticity (the primary outcome), skin thickness, stratum corneum water content and eye wrinkles improved in a dose-dependent manner. All authors are from the Shiseido Global Innovation Center. The extract was combined with amla, so no result can be credited to lingonberry alone.
  11. Aurinsalo L, Lapatto-Reiniluoto O, Kurkela M, Neuvonen M, Moilanen E, Niemi M, Tornio A, Backman JT. Repeated Intake of Grapefruit Juice Inhibits CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 while Lingonberry Powder Does Not Induce Major CYP Enzymes in Humans. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2026;119(4):953-963. doi: 10.1002/cpt.70165.PubMedUsed to support: Crossover study in 11 healthy volunteers who took lingonberry powder three times a day for 9 days, grapefruit juice for 3 days, or water. Lingonberry pretreatment did not change any CYP enzyme index (CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4) or OATP biomarkers, while grapefruit juice inhibited several. The authors conclude lingonberry powder is unlikely to induce CYP enzymes in humans. No competing interests declared.
  12. Matheu V, Baeza ML, Zubeldia JM, Barrios Y. Allergy to lingonberry: A case report. Clin Mol Allergy. 2004;2(1):2. doi: 10.1186/1476-7961-2-2.PubMedUsed to support: Single case report, described by the authors as the first case of lingonberry allergy. Symptoms, timing, a positive skin test, IgE-ELISA and western blot supported lingonberry as the cause. One case, so it shows that allergy can occur, not how often.
  13. Lähteenmäki H, Tervahartiala T, Räisänen IT, Pärnänen P, Sorsa T. Fermented lingonberry juice's effects on active MMP-8 (aMMP-8), bleeding on probing (BOP), and visible plaque index (VPI) in dental implants-A clinical pilot mouthwash study. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2022;8(6):1322-1330. doi: 10.1002/cre2.638.PubMedUsed to support: Pilot study in 20 adults with dental implants: 10 rinsed with 10 mL of fermented lingonberry juice (Lingora) twice a day for 15 days and 10 used no mouthwash. Active MMP-8, visible plaque and bleeding on probing fell in the rinse group, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group. A mouth rinse, not a swallowed supplement. Author P. Pärnänen holds the patent for the fermented juice and the Lingora trademark.
  14. Pärnänen P, Lomu S, Räisänen IT, Tervahartiala T, Sorsa T. Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Oral Effects of Fermented Lingonberry Juice-A One-Year Prospective Human Intervention Study. Eur J Dent. 2023;17(4):1235-1240. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759619.PubMedUsed to support: Single-arm study in 25 adults (21 analyzed) who rinsed with 10 mL of fermented lingonberry juice (Lingora; 212 mg polyphenols and 3 g sugar per 100 mL) for 30 seconds once a day for 6 months, followed by 6 months without it. S. mutans and Candida counts, decayed surfaces, bleeding on probing and visible plaque fell and lactobacilli rose; pocket depths did not change. There was no control group, and scaling and root planing were done at each visit. No participant reported side effects. The paper declares no conflicts; the first author disclosed in other papers that she holds the fermented juice patent.
  15. Kowalska K. Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) Fruit as a Source of Bioactive Compounds with Health-Promoting Effects-A Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(10):5126. doi: 10.3390/ijms22105126.PubMedUsed to support: Narrative review (full text read). Lingonberries are mostly wild harvested and eaten as jam, juice, syrup and dried fruit. Cyanidin-3-galactoside makes up about 82.5% of anthocyanins in wild berries; proanthocyanidins reach about 260 to 279 mg per 100 g of fresh fruit, with B-type dimers and trimers more abundant than A-type ones in Alaskan berries; quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, catechin and epicatechin are also present. Phenolic content varies with region, cultivar, ripeness and extraction method. Health effects summarized are largely from cell and animal studies.
  16. Lee J. Anthocyanin analyses of Vaccinium fruit dietary supplements. Food Sci Nutr. 2016;4(5):742-52. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.339.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory analysis of 45 Vaccinium fruit supplements (cranberry, lingonberry, bilberry and blueberry) bought in the market: 14 did not contain the fruit listed on the label, six contained no anthocyanins, and in authentic products anthocyanin content ranged from 0.04 to 14.37 mg per capsule, tablet or teaspoon. Shows that label identity and content of berry supplements can be unreliable.