Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. 156 patients who took 100 mg Pycnogenol® for 3 months experienced a 191% increase in walking distance compared to a 35% increase in placebo group, a 56% decrease in pain compared to only 9.6% in the placebo group, and a 79% decrease in ankle swelling compared to only 1% in the placebo group.
Pycnogenol® Found to Help Joint Health
Research continues to shine more light on the diverse health benefits of Pycnogenol®. A new study (1) has found that Pycnogenol® may help osteoarthritis. This joint condition is the nation’s leading cause of disability, limiting everyday activities for 16 million Americans. It results in 750,000 hospitalizations and costs our healthcare system over $51 billion each year (2).
In the study, 156 patients with diagnosed arthritis were given either 100 mg of Pycnogenol® or placebo per day for three months. During this period, they completed questionnaires on arthritis pain and did an exercise treadmill test (testing how far they could walk without pain). The researchers graded ankle swelling in both groups at the beginning and end of the study.
The researchers found that the pain scores decreased by 56% in the Pycnogenol®) group, group. The Pycnogenol® patients had a 191% increase in distance they could walk on the treadmill without pain (65 m to 198 m), compared to only 35% in the placebo group. Finally, ankle swelling decreased by 79% in the Pycnogenol® group, compared to only 1% in the placebo group.
For the researchers, “Pycnogenol® offers an option for reduction of treatment costs and side effects by sparing anti-inflammatory drugs” when treating osteoarthritis.
Other health benefits of Pycnogenol® include helping deal with lower leg swelling (3), being effective for venous ulcers (4), showing to be comparable to prescription drugs for helping venous leg circulation (5), and benefiting both mental health (6) and healthy levels of inflammation (7).
Source: Belcaro, G., M. R. Cesarone, S. Errichi, C. Zulli, B. M. Errichi, G. Vinciguerra, A. Ledda et al. “Treatment of osteoarthritis with Pycnogenol®. The SVOS (San Valentino osteo‐arthrosis study). evaluation of signs, symptoms, physical performance and vascular aspects.” Phytotherapy research 22, no. 4 (2008): 518-523.
Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Posted July 17, 2008.
References:
- Belcaro G. Treatment of osteoarthritis with Pycnogenol®. The SVOS (San Valentino osteo-arthrosis study). evaluation of signs, symptoms, physical performance and vascular aspects. Phyto Res 2008; 22: 518-523. Published Online: Apr 2 2008 8:56AM
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2376 - “Targeting Arthritis: Reducing Disability for 43 Million Americans” posted on the CDC Website
- Belcaro G. Prevention of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in long-haul flights with pycnogenol. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2004 Oct;10(4):373-7
- 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
- Cesarone MR. Comparison of Pycnogenol and Daflon in treating chronic venous insufficiency: a prospective, controlled study. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2006; 12(2): 205-12
- Trebaticka J. Treatment of ADHD with French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol((R)). Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006 May 13; [Epub ahead of print]
- Grimm T. Inhibition of NF-êB activation and MMP-9 secretion by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) Journal of Inflammation 2006, 3:1 (27 January 2006)
