Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Pycnogenol supplementation significantly reduced blood pressure and blood sugar in 58.3% of 48 diabetic and hypertensive subjects within 12 weeks compared to 20.8% in the control group. Also medication dosage was decreased by 50%.
As a major cause of heart disease and stroke, diabetes affects an estimated 25.8 million Americans (8.3% of the population) (1). The total number of diabetes cases in the world has doubled since 1980 (153 million to 347 million in 2008) (2) and diabetes currently costs the U.S. healthcare system $174 billion per year (1). When looking for ways to help improve long-term blood sugar control and better blood pressure control, both of which can help better manage diabetes, one effective option may be Pycnogenol.
A 2008 study (3) involved 48 subjects (27 men, 21 women) between aged 48 to 70 with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, with their high blood pressure being treated with prescription medication. They were given either 125 milligrams per day of Pycnogenol or placebo for 12 weeks. Blood pressure was measured every 2 weeks and their medications were adjusted as needed until their blood pressure was under better control. Blood samples were taken every 4 weeks.
After 12 weeks, researchers noted significant improvements in two blood measurements: a protein called endothelin-1 that keeps blood vessel constricted (4), and a long-term indicator of blood sugar control, HbA1c (5):
| What Was Measured | Pycnogenol | Control | p - value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endothelin-1 (picograms/milliliter) | 17.9% decrease (21.9 to 18) | 2.2% decrease (23 to 22.5) | < 0.05 |
| HbA1c (%) | 10.2% decrease (7.9 to 7.1) | No change (8.1 to 8.0) | < 0.05 |
In addition, 58.3% of the Pycnogenol-treated subjects achieved blood pressure control at the end of the 12 weeks compared to 20.8% in the control group (p < 0.05). Among the 58.3% in the Pycnogenol group who had achieved better blood pressure control was a 50% reduction in medication dosage after 12 weeks.
When suggesting how Pycnogenol elicited the benefits to blood pressure control, the researchers cited Pycnogenol’s effect on an enzyme (called “angiotensin converting enzyme”) that results in improved blood flow (6) and its effect on increasing nitric oxide levels in the heart, resulting in relaxed blood vessels (7) For HbA1c, the researchers were less sure but suggested Pycnogenol affects an enzyme in the intestines called alpha-glucosidase that results in decreased sugar absorption and lower blood sugar levels (8).
For the researchers, in the test group studied, “Pycnogenol improves diabetes control, reduces high blood pressure medicine use, and may favor a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes.”
Source: Zibadi, Sherma, et al. “Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementation.” Nutrition Research 28.5 (2008): 315-320. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2008.03.003
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted March 3, 2015.
Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY. You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com
References:
- “2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet” posted on the CDC website
- “Adult Diabetes Rate Doubles” posted on Yahoo News June 26, 2011
- Zibadi S. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementation. Nutr Res 2008 May;28(5):315-20. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.03.003.
- Kawanabe Y. Endothelin. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 Jan; 68(2): 195–203
- “Guide to HbA1c” posted on diabetes.co.uk
- Blazso G, Gaspar R, Gábor M, Rüve HJ, Rohdewald P. ACE inhibition and hypotensive effect of procyanidins-containing extract from the bark of Pinus pinaster sol. Pharm Pharmacol Lett 1996;6:8-11
- Fitzpatrick DF, Bing B, Rohdewald P. Endothelium-dependent vascular effects of Pycnogenol. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1998;32: 509-15
- Schäfer A, Högger P. Oligomeric procyanidins of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) effectively inhibit a-glucosidase. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2007;77:41-6.
