Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Pycnogenol was found to decrease ankle swelling by 35%, and a 20% decrease in disability, compared to a control group.
Pycnogenol, a bark extract from the French maritime pine, is a rich source of plant antioxidants called polyphenols (1)believed responsible for pycnogenol’s significant health benefits that include helping maintain normal blood sugar (2) and helping maintain joint health and mobility (3).
When it comes to blood circulation, pycnogenol has been found useful in helping treat venous ulcers (4), protecting against clots in veins from the exterior to the interior of the body (5) and improving venous blood circulation in the legs (6). Now a new study (7) has again confirmed the benefit for venous leg circulation. Chronic venous insufficiency (such as varicose veins) affects as many as 25 million Americans and causes more days lost to work than artery disease (8).
In the study, 98 patients with an average age of 47 and diagnosed with severe chronic venous insufficiency for an average of 6 years were given either 150 mg of Pycnogenol per day, elastic leg stockings (control group) or both Pycnogenol and leg stockings (combination group) for 8 weeks. The researchers measured several aspects of venous insufficiency, including ankle swelling and oxygen levels in the legs. They also scored disability by asking patients about pain and observed swelling, venous ulcers, and skin appearance.
By the end of the study, the researchers noted the most significant results for all 3 measurements in the combination group compared to the pycnogenol only and elastic stockings group for:
Ankle swelling: There was a 41% decrease in the combination group (2.2 to 1.3) compared to a 35% decrease in the Pycnogenol only group (2.3 to 1.5) and a 13% decrease in the stockings group (2.3 to 2.0).
Oxygen levels in the legs: There was an 8% increase in the combination group (47.1 to 51.1) compared to an 8% increase in the Pycnogenol only group (46.2 to 50.1) and a 2% decrease in the stockings group (46.8 to 46.1).
Clinical Disability Score: There was a 52% decreased disability in the combination group (8.3 to 4.0) compared to a 47% decrease in the Pycnogenol only group (8.4 to 4.5) and a 32% decrease in the stockings group (8.4 to 5.7).
For the researchers, “This study corroborates a significant clinical role for Pycnogenol in the management, treatment and control of CVI also in combination with compression.
Source: Cesarone, M. R., et al. “Improvement of signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and microangiopathy with Pycnogenol®: A prospective, controlled study.” Phytomedicine 17.11 (2010): 835-839.
© 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Posted April 27, 2011.
References:
- Rohdewald P. A review of the French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®), a herbal medication with a diverse pharmacology, International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 40 (2002), pp. 158–168.
- Liu, X., et al., Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II. Life Sci, 2004. 75(21): p. 2505-13.
- Schafer A. Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). Biomed Pharm 2005;60(1): 5-9.
- Belcaro, G., M. R. Cesarone, et al. (2005). “Venous ulcers: microcirculatory improvement and faster healing with local use of pycnogenol((r)).” Angiology 56(6): 699-705.
- Belcaro G. Prevention of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in long-haul flights with pycnogenol. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2004 Oct;10(4):373-7.
- Cesarone MR. Comparison of Pycnogenol and Daflon in treating chronic venous insufficiency: a prospective, controlled study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2006; 12(2): 20512.
- Cesarone MR. Improvement of signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and microangiopathy with Pycnogenol: A prospective, controlled study. Phytomedicine 2010; 17:835-839.
- “Chronic Venous Insufficiency” posted on the Venous Disease Coalition website.
