Take a deeper breath with Pycnogenol?

It goes without saying that our respiratory system plays a key role in keeping our organs function properly. It brings oxygen to every cell of our body and removes carbon dioxide. With around 300 million people affected, asthma is the most common respiratory disease worldwide (1). Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be triggered by allergies, by medication such as aspirin or it can arise within the body through yet unclear molecular mechanisms (2). Recurrent episodes of coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness are typical symptoms for asthma (3). Viral infections, cigarette smoking and air pollution can contribute to the worsening of allergic asthma.

Regular supplementation with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant Pycnogenol? French maritime pine bark extract has been shown to have several beneficial effects on asthma and allergic reactions (4-13).

Pycnogenol?’s efficacy against asthma

The effect of Pycnogenol? supplementation on allergic asthma management was investigated in several clinical studies (4-6).

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study, the effect of Pycnogenol? supplementation for four weeks on chronic asthma patients was investigated (4). The patients’ lung function was assessed by analysis of the “forced expiration volume in 1 second” (FEV1), representing the percentage of lung volume, exhaled in a second. In asthmatics, the FEV1 is generally reduced as their breathing is restricted.

After Pycnogenol? supplementation the patients could exhale 70% of their lung volume as compared to 59% at trial start and 63% in response to placebo. Additionally, the study participants rated their asthma symptoms regarding severity. 4 weeks of Pycnogenol? intake led to a reduction of symptom severity by 20%, whereas it was reduced by only 4.5% in placebo patients. Furthermore, Pycnogenol? significantly reduced pro-inflammatory mediators (leukotrienes) in the blood of patients, as compared to both baseline values and placebo.

Most asthmatics developed the disease already during childhood, most of them before they reached the age of five years. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of Pycnogenol? on 60 children aged 6 to 18 years with mild to moderate asthma (5). The study showed that the breathing capacity improved significantly already after 1 month treatment with Pycnogenol?, as assessed by measuring FEV1. The severity of asthma symptoms as well as leukotriene levels in the urine decreased drastically after one month of Pycnogenol? supplementation and further decreased significantly throughout the trial period. The treatment with placebo had no significant effect on leukotriene levels or asthma symptoms. The most compelling outcome of the study is the dramatically reduced necessity of using albuterol rescue inhalers as severe asthma attacks appeared much less frequently. After 1 month, 8 out of 30 children taking Pycnogenol? didn’t require rescue inhalers anymore and 18 children were completely off the inhaler after the 3-month supplementation with Pycnogenol?.

The effects of Pycnogenol? on allergic asthma was investigated in a 6-month study with 79 patients suffering from dust mite allergy (6). Asthma symptoms, such as dry couch, chest tightness, wheeze, shortness of breath or nighttime awakenings significantly improved with Pycnogenol? supplementation. In addition, the patients were able to reduce the use of salbutamol asthma inhaler per day by half.

The authors of the three studies concluded that Pycnogenol? is an effective and safe nutritional approach to manage mild to moderate chronic asthma and to reduce the need for rescue medication.

Pycnogenol? normalizes the immune response

Inflammatory processes are a key mechanism in asthma development (2). Pycnogenol?’s potent anti-inflammatory activities explain the mechanism regarding its regulation of asthmatic diseases (7, 8, 14-16). Already after 5 days of daily intake, a study reported that Pycnogenol? significantly prevented the up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory enzymes 5-LOX and COX-2 (14). In another study, plasma samples of volunteers after intake of Pycnogenol? showed a statistically significant inhibition of NF-κB activation by 15.5% and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) release by 25%, two important regulators in the inflammation process (15). The expression of a majority of pro-inflammatory genes is governed by NF-κB, such as leukotrienes, cytokines and adhesion molecules. Some of these molecules are known to play an important role in the onset of asthma. The partial inhibition of NF-κB lowers the sensitivity level for triggering an immune response, which will help prevent an asthmatic attack. MMP-9 is a connective tissue degrading enzyme, which greatly affects pulmonary function of asthmatic patients. In a similar study, statistically significant inhibition of inflammatory molecules COX-1 and COX-2 was observed after intake of 300 mg Pycnogenol? (16).

These anti-inflammatory effects of Pycnogenol? were confirmed in a study with immune cells (macrophages) that are involved in allergic reactions (7). The cells were treated with Pycnogenol?, which significantly decreased the elevated production of the inflammation markers IL-1 β and IL-6 as well as MMP-9 in a concentration dependent manner. Another similar study showed Pycnogenol? to suppress the upregulation of inflammation markers and blocked the activation of an allergy-related pathway in inner layer of lungs (airway epithelial cells), treated with an allergen (8). In addition to its anti-inflammatory action, Pycnogenol? has potent antioxidant effects that help to reduce triggers of asthma attacks (17-19).

Pycnogenol? can relieve the impact of allergies

Allergies are a very common respiratory problem with 10-30% of the world population suffering from allergic rhinitis (20). Laboratory data as well as results from clinical trials suggest an amelioration of allergy symptoms after Pycnogenol? intake (9-13).

In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, researchers found that Pycnogenol? supplementation improved allergic rhinitis symptoms from birch and other pollen allergy when the supplementation started at least 5 weeks, better 8 weeks before the pollen season (9). Eye symptoms decreased by 35% and nasal symptoms by 20.5% compared to placebo. The number of patients requiring rescue antihistamines was 26% lower in the Pycnogenol? group than in the placebo group.

Another study investigated the effects of Pycnogenol? intake on wheal and flare evolution after local histamine injection in healthy individuals (10). Pycnogenol? supplementation significantly reduced the wheal and flare response, by decreasing the redness area around the injection point by 44% or by shortening the time of its complete disappearance by 64%.

To further understand the mechanism behind these anti-histaminic properties, a study investigated Pycnogenol?’s effects on immune cells that are involved in allergic reactions. Pycnogenol? was found to reduce the release of histamine from the immune cells (mast cells) dose-dependently (11).

This can explain Pycnogenol?’s preventive action against an immediate immune reaction towards antigens as it occurs in allergies like hay fever. Interestingly, Pycnogenol? was at least as effective for inhibiting histamine release as a widely used anti-histaminic medication, sodium cromoglycate.

Pycnogenol? French maritime pine bark extract is an effective, safe and evidence-based natural solution to manage asthma and allergies. For more information on Pycnogenol?, please visit www.pycnogenol.com .

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

References:

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16.???? Sch?fer A, Chovanova Z, Muchova J, Sumegova K, Liptakova A, Durackova Z, et al. Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). Biomed Pharmacother. 2005;60(1):5-9.

17.???? Chovanova Z, Muchova J, Sivonova M, Dvorakova M, Zitnanova I, Waczulikova I, et al. Effect of polyphenolic extract, Pycnogenol, on the level of 8-oxoguanine in children suffering from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Free Radic Res. 2006;40(9):1003-10.

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