Pycnogenol?: The Power of Science Backed by 40 Gold-Standard Clinical Trials

The efficacy of any intervention is best validated in clinical studies. The highest “gold standard” for study designs is randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled. In these studies, the participants are first randomly assigned to either take an active medication or placebo. Double-blind refers to the fact that not only the participants but also the researchers carrying out the study do not know which group the respective participants were assigned to. The so-called placebo effect is a known biological response of the body to an expectation of benefits from non-active remedies, which releases endorphins and dopamine, leading to pain relief and potentially the relief of other symptoms. Studies using placebo as a control are investigating any efficiency of the treatment that exceeds the placebo effect.

With a remarkable foundation of scientific rigor, Pycnogenol? has been extensively studied in 40 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies involving over 2,000 participants, establishing its effectiveness and safety across diverse health applications. (1). In these trials lasting up to six months, Pycnogenol? was shown to be safe and efficacious in 10 different fields of applications.

These evidence-based applications include cardiovascular health (2-12), chronic venous insufficiency (13-15), cognition (16-23), joint health (24-26), skin health (27, 28), eye health (29, 30), women’s health (4, 31, 32), respiratory health and allergies (33-35), oral health (36) and sports performance (37-41).?

The mechanisms of action that explain these beneficial effects on different conditions in the human body were investigated in several studies. Pycnogenol? has been shown to have four main properties: its antioxidative effects (2-4, 21, 22), its anti-inflammatory action (42, 43), its positive impact on blood circulation and endothelial function (2, 6-8, 44, 45) and its reinforcing effects on the extracellular matrix (46, 47).

Thanks to its unique specification, its botanical source, its standardized extraction process, and specific composition, research findings obtained from these studies are unique to Pycnogenol?.

Cardiovascular and endothelial health

The effects of Pycnogenol? on cardiovascular and endothelial health have been investigated more than any other health condition (2-12). As the endothelium – the inner lining of blood vessels – is actively involved in many physiological functions, like controlling blood pressure, blood clotting and signaling during inflammation, endothelial function is crucial for cardiovascular health (48). A Pycnogenol? metabolite was shown to be actively taken up by endothelial cells, exerting anti-inflammatory effects from within the blood vessels, explaining its beneficial effects (45). Pycnogenol? intake was shown to normalize blood pressure and platelet function, to improve blood lipid profile as well as blood sugar levels and microcirculation. The effects of Pycnogenol? were investigated in healthy people, individuals with borderline high-risk factors but also as an adjunct in people taking prescription medicine for cardiovascular health issues.

Chronic venous insufficiency

Three placebo-controlled studies on chronic venous insufficiency and vein health have shown another important clinical application of Pycnogenol? (13-15). In fact, venous health has been the first and one of the key applications for Pycnogenol?.

Pycnogenol? supplementation relieved heaviness, swelling and discomfort in the legs of chronic venous insufficiency patients. In addition, Pycnogenol? has been shown to counteract vein insufficiency, reduce edema and prevent thrombosis by improving microcirculation, blood flow and platelet function as well as exerting its beneficial effects on endothelial function and its anti-inflammatory action.

Cognition

In eight publications on placebo-controlled studies investigating the effects on cognitive function, Pycnogenol? has shown beneficial effects in all age groups from children with ADHD to elderly people with memory-based cognitive challenges (16-23). The broad spectrum of benefits of Pycnogenol? for ADHD were validated in placebo-controlled studies showing reduced hyperactivity and inattention in children with ADHD (16-21). Pycnogenol? also contributes to preserving healthy mental performance, including memory-based cognitive functions and to managing mild cognitive impairment in elderly people (22, 23).

Joint health

In three randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studies, Pycnogenol? intake has been shown to act beneficially in patients with osteoarthritis (24-26). Osteoarthritis is a condition, in which joint cartilage and the underlying bones are impacted by breakdown events, resulting from mechanical degradation (49). This can activate inflammation processes, which accelerate degradation of the joint cartilage, causing pain, swelling and stiffness (49). Half a billion people worldwide are affected by this debilitating condition.

Studies with Pycnogenol? showed that discomfort, knee stiffness and physical function improved and the need for analgesic medication in patients presenting with signs of osteoarthritis was reduced after Pycnogenol? intake. The mechanisms by which Pycnogenol? supports joint health include promoting the expression of collagen and hyaluronic acid synthase, resulting in increased hyaluronic acid and collagen within the extracellular matrix. Additionally, Pycnogenol? reduces inflammation by lowering levels of pro-inflammatory and tissue-degrading markers. Anti-inflammatory metabolites of Pycnogenol? have also been detected in the knee cartilage fluid, allowing it to target inflammation directly at the site of need. (46, 50).

Skin and hair health

Two studies on skin and hair health have shown Pycnogenol?’s versatile effects on beauty in placebo-controlled studies (27, 28). Pycnogenol? intake reduced skin water loss, showing an improvement of skin barrier function, while also enhancing skin elasticity and skin moisture levels in urban outdoor workers, who are routinely exposed to pollution and sun irradiation. In addition, the development of skin darkening was prevented with Pycnogenol? (27). Increased hyaluronic acid synthase and collagen content as well as the reduction of pigmentation-related mediators after Pycnogenol? intake explain these observations (46, 47).

Furthermore, Pycnogenol? significantly increased hair density, reduced water loss from subjects’ scalp and positively affected microcirculation in the scalp (28). Pycnogenol?’s anti-inflammatory (42, 43) and antioxidant activities (2-4, 21, 22) contribute to protecting hair follicles by capturing free radicals, generated either by stress, sun rays, pollution, or inflammation.

Eye health

Owing to its effects on microcirculation, endothelial function, inflammation and oxidation, Pycnogenol? was found to have positive effects on eye health (29, 30). Pycnogenol? showed effects to stop further progression of retinopathy and ameliorate the eyesight of diabetics by stabilizing and sealing leaky capillaries of the retina, stopping further leakage of blood (29, 30). Pycnogenol? supplementation was shown to help protecting retinal capillaries in diabetic retinopathy by improving perfusion of the retinal tissue resulting in the restoration of vision loss in diabetic retinopathy patients.

Women’s health

To evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol? on the health of women, two placebo-controlled studies focused on menopausal symptoms (4, 31) and one on menstrual discomfort (32) have been conducted.

Menopausal symptoms such as tiredness, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, memory and concentration issues, vaginal dryness and sleep problems were improved after intake of Pycnogenol? (4, 31). In addition, blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels were normalized after Pycnogenol? intake in these women. Interestingly, Pycnogenol? supplementation had no effect on blood plasma levels of different sexual hormones. Pycnogenol?’s validated effects on blood circulation and endothelial health partly explain its beneficial effects on symptoms like hot flashes and sexual behavior.

Additionally, Pycnogenol? supplementation significantly reduced abdominal pain in women with dysmenorrhea (32). They needed less analgesic medication and the number of days on which analgesics were required was significantly reduced with Pycnogenol?. Pycnogenol? has potent anti-inflammatory properties (42, 43), explaining its efficacy for discomfort caused by menstrual periods, during which the tissue lining of the uterine cavity is replaced, leading to wound healing and inflammation.

Respiratory health and allergies

Pycnogenol? has been shown to have beneficial effects on asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms (33-35). Recurrent episodes of coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness are typical symptoms of asthma, one of the most common respiratory diseases worldwide (51).

Breathing capacity, as well as allergic rhinitis symptom severity improved and the need for rescue inhalers in asthma patients and for rescue antihistamines in allergy patients was reduced after Pycnogenol? intake. Furthermore, Pycnogenol? supplementation significantly reduced pro-inflammatory mediators (leukotrienes) in the blood of patients. Pycnogenol?’s anti-inflammatory effects are suggested to be responsible for its anti-allergic and anti-asthma efficacy.

Oral health

A study on oral health examined the effects of a chewing gum containing Pycnogenol? specifically on persistent bacteria-induced malodor (36). After chewing the Pycnogenol? containing gum, malodor, tongue-coating as well as hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria in saliva were reduced compared to using the placebo gum. The mechanism behind these effects has been suggested to be the previously observed bacteriostatic properties of Pycnogenol? (52).

Sports

In five placebo-controlled studies, Pycnogenol? supplementation was shown to enhance sport endurance and performance (37-41).

Endurance time on the treadmill and during biking increased after regular Pycnogenol? intake. In addition, Pycnogenol? improved muscle contractile performance, power output and velocity during resistance training (six sets of back squats). Furthermore, Pycnogenol? intake had beneficial effects on the rating of perceived exertion, on heart rate, blood lactate concentration during performance and on serum NAD+ levels. These results confirm previously shown antioxidant properties of Pycnogenol? (2-4, 21, 22) and its protection against the high post-exercise oxidative stress. Another property of Pycnogenol? explaining its effect of increased performance is the improved tissue perfusion by enhancing microcirculation (11) and its effects on endothelial function (2, 6-8, 44, 45) contributing to improved blood flow by relaxing blood vessels.

Pycnogenol? French maritime pine bark extract is a safe, natural and evidence-based solution to efficiently support a broad range of health applications. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Pycnogenol? contribute to joint and respiratory health, cognitive function, menopause, dysmenorrhea and sports. Furthermore, Pycnogenol? optimizes blood flow by improving endothelial function. Since blood vessels run through all tissues, the effects of Pycnogenol? were seen in cardiovascular and venous health, as well as skin, hair and eye health.

Article written by Dr. Franziska Weichmann, Manager of Scientific Communications and Product Development at Horphag Research.

For more information on this health supplement allrounder, please visit www.pycnogenol.com

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