Pycnogenol Beneficial in Heart Disease

Article by Don Goldberg

Pycnogenol

 

Pycnogenol® May Support Healthy Blood Pressure Levels in Mildly Hypertensive Subjects

Life Sciences. 2004 January 2;74(7):855-62.

 

In a recent double-blind study, researchers studied 58 subjects with mild hypertension who were taking nifedipine, a prescription blood pressure medication. Subjects were given 100 mg of Pycnogenol®, or a placebo, for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, Pycnogenol significantly decreased endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor, and increased 6-keto prostaglandin F1alpha, a peptide that inhibits the aggregation of blood platelet cells. Heart rate was not changed. Based on study results, one author suggests that Pycnogenol® offers a broad range of benefits as it may inhibit the aggregation of blood platelet cells, as well as for its diverse antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions.

Pilot Study Indicates Pycnogenol® May Offer Cholesterol Health Benefits

Nutrition Research. Volume 23, Issue 9 , September 2003, Pages 1189-1198.

In a recent double-blind study, 21 subjects with erectile dysfunction were given 120 mg of Pycnogenol or a placebo each day for 3 months. As well as greatly improving erectile function, Pycnogenol decreased the total cholesterol levels from 5.41 to 4.98 mmol/L and LDL Cholesterol from 3.44 to 2.78 mmol/L. HDL cholesterol and TAG (threeacylglycerols) were not changed.

Pycnogenol® Supports Various Cardiovascular Health Factors

Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2003 December;1(1):27-32.

A recent review of published clinical and pharmacological data on Pycnogenol®, performed by Dr. Ronald Watson, Ph.D., College of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of Arizona, suggests that Pycnogenol® supplementation between 25mg - 200mg may offer multiple heart health benefits. Dr Watson, who has also performed extensive research on Pycnogenol®, suggests that this nutrient may act as a natural cardiovascular health “polypill” by counteracting important cardiovascular risk factors simultaneously, by helping to reduce LDL cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improve microcirculation and prevent platelet aggregation. Dr Watson further states that although the “polypill” concept is exciting, it is important to note that overall cardiovascular health should be achieved through nutritional approaches and that there is lack of epidemiological evidence on Pycnogenol® supplementation for longterm reduction of heart disease.

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