Pycnogenol Helps Alleviate Symptoms of Raynaud Syndrome

by | Jun 29, 2020 | 2019, Circulatory Health, Pycnogenol

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. This pilot study suggests the use of Pycnogenol® for patients with mild Raynaud Syndrome in lieu of more dangerous and expensive treatments.

jointRaynaud Syndrome (RS) is a rare vascular disease characterized by reduced blood flow to areas of the body (vasospasm) in response to cold temperatures or psychological stress 1. While primary RS has no known direct cause, secondary RS is caused by an underlying disease or condition and is typically more severe 2. Patients with RS may experience numbness and color changes in fingers, toes, and ears, and as part of standard care, are advised to avoid cold exposure 3. Treatment may also include the prescription of calcium channel blockers to dilate blood vessels and promote circulation 4, and in severe cases, infusion treatment with prostaglandins (hormone-like substances associated with vasodilatory effects) may be recommended 2. Studies looking at other microcirculation disorders and conditions associated with vasospasm have found Pycnogenol® (a standardized extract of French maritime pine bark) to be effective in controlling vasospastic symptoms 5-7.  Pycnogenol® is associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects 8 and demonstrates the ability to enhance perfusional activities, based on Laser Doppler flowmetry 9, 10. Anecdotal evidence supports the therapeutic use of Pycnogenol® in patients with secondary RS 8, however, controlled trials are needed to expand findings. Thus, in a 2020 study 11 published in Minerva Cardioangiologica, researchers in Italy investigated the effects of Pycnogenol® supplementation vs. standard care in alleviating symptoms associated with mild primary RS.

A total of 67 women (mean age = 36.1 yeas) with mild, primary RS (reporting regular work-related cold exposure) were enrolled in a pilot, registry trial in which subjects chose to participate in one of two groups: one receiving standard care (primarily involving avoidance of cold exposure and smoking, engagement in exercise, and wearing of thermic gloves) or standard care plus Pycnogenol® (100 mg daily) for 4 weeks. After a 30-minute period of acclimatization to standard room temperature, subjects underwent a series of evaluations at the beginning and end of the study: microcirculation and temperature changes in the distal fingertips were tested using thermography and Laser Doppler flowmetry (using flux units), transcutaneous oxygen pressure was measured using transcutaneous oximetry (TcPO2), and plasma free radicals (PFR, biomarkers of oxidative stress) were measured from collected blood samples. Symptoms of RS (sensation of coldness, color changes, paresthesia) were also evaluated in subjects at the beginning and end of the study.

At the end of 4 weeks, the Pycnogenol® group exhibited significant reductions in primary symptoms of RS (coldness, burning pain, paresthesia, and irregular color), compared to the standard care group (p < 0.05 for all). Thermography results also showed that low temperature areas and discrepancies in temperature and color at the fingertips were significantly decreased in the Pycnogenol® group vs. standard care (p < 0.05). After 4 weeks, laser Doppler flowmetry indicated a more significant increase in fingertip skin flux for Pycnogenol® vs. controls (+1.55 flux units vs. +0.14 flux units, p < 0.05), and finally, relative to subjects receiving standard care, those receiving active supplementation demonstrated a significant decrease in PFR (p < 0.05), along with an increase in TcPO2 (p < 0.05).

General results support the therapeutic utility of Pycnogenol® for the treatment of primary RS. Supplementation with Pycnogenol® for a period of 4 weeks was sufficient to produce significant improvements in key symptoms of RS, along with lower levels of oxidative stress and increased transcutaneous oxygen pressure, suggestive of increased blood flow. Thermography and laser Doppler flowmetry also confirmed the ability of Pycnogenol® to improve microvascular and perfusional activities and normalize temperature and color irregularities in patients. Overall findings suggest that supplementation with Pycnogenol® may serve as an effective alternative to more complex treatments like infusion therapy in the treatment of RS. As a small-scale, open-label registry trial, limitations of the current study include a relatively small sample size and short follow-up period and the absence of randomization and an active-control group. Prospective research looking at the effects of Pycnogenol® in subjects with secondary RS is also warranted.

Source: Hu S, Hosoi M, Belcaro G, et al. Management of mild, primary Reynaud Syndrome: supplementation with Pycnogenol®. Minerva Cardioangiologica. 2019; 67(5): 392-398. DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4725.19.04991-0.

Hu, Shu, Morio Hosoi, Gianni Belcaro, Mark Dugall, Beatrice Feragalli, Roberto Cotellese, and Roberta Luzzi. “Management of mild, primary Raynaud Syndrome: supplementation with Pycnogenol®.” Minerva cardioangiologica 67, no. 5 (2019): 392-398.

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Posted June 29, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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