Pycnogenol® Supplementation Effective in the Treatment of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

by | Jan 13, 2022 | 2021, Bladder Health, Pycnogenol

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Study results suggest 60-day supplementation of Pycnogenol® significantly reduces the chance of a recurrent urinary tract infection, compared to cranberry supplementation and control group.

stomach painUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, affecting around 150 million people a year 1. UTIs occur more frequently in women and recent studies observed that at least 40% of women experience a urinary tract infection in their lifetime and are 30 times more likely to experience a UTI compared to men 2 . Urinary tract infections are caused by uropathogenic microorganism colonizations. These urinary pathogens have increasing resistance rates to antibiotics, resulting in worse clinical outcomes, and can lead to interstitial cystitis, a chronic disorder of the bladder 3. Cranberry has been a commonly used antimicrobial supplement to address urinary tract infections due to its high polyphenol and phenolic acid components 4. Researchers have also noted the efficacy of Pycnogenol®, a dried extract from the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), as a natural remedy to combat the bacterial pathogens present during a urinary tract infection. Pycnogenol® has been studied for its potent antioxidant capabilities, while also exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, and shows modulatory effects on the immune system 5. Additionally, Pycnogenol® consists of concentrated flavonoids, a group of phytonutrients, with the primary constituents being procyanidins, taxifolin, ferulic acid, catechin, and caffeic acid to further aid in its antioxidant and antimicrobial capabilities 6.

Ledda et al conducted an open pilot registry study to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of Pycnogenol® supplementation or cranberry extract in subjects with recurring urinary tract infections or interstitial cystitis. Subject inclusion criteria consisted of reporting three symptomatic UTIs in the past year and reporting at least two UTIs in the past six months. Urinary tract infections were confirmed by urinalysis and by the occurrence of UTI symptoms. A two-month follow-up was completed to evaluate the occurrence of new or persisting infections. Another measurement taken into consideration was systemic oxidative stress, which was assessed by the measurement of the plasma-free radical concentration in the blood of fasted participants. A total of 64 subjects (between 35 and 41 years old) with recurrent urinary tract infections were included in the registry study. Researchers used three subject groups: one subject group was supplemented with 150 mg/day Pycnogenol® (n=22), the second group with 400 mg/day cranberry extract (n=20), and the third was a control group (n=22). Additionally, subjects were advised to follow a standard management protocol which suggested following accurate hygiene measures, staying hydrated, avoiding too much caffeine and alcohol, and partaking in mild exercise daily.

After 2 months, the results were as follows:

  • Number of infection-free subjects was significantly higher in both the Pycnogenol® and cranberry supplementation groups compared to the control group (p<0.05).
  • The rate of recurring infections during Pycnogenol® supplementation was significantly lower than with cranberry supplementation (p<0.05).
  • Number of infection-free subjects was significantly higher with Pycnogenol® (22/22) than with cranberry (7/20) (p<0.05).
  • Number of symptom-free subjects after a 2-month supplementation with Pycnogenol® (20/22) was superior to the control group (18/22) and the cranberry supplementation group (16/20).
  • Oxidative stress decreased in both supplement groups, with Pycnogenol® having the most significant changes observed (p<0.05).

In conclusion, researchers demonstrated that 60-day supplementation of Pycnogenol® can significantly decrease the reoccurrence of persistent urinary tract infections without side effects. Ledda et al suggest further studies should focus on the role Pycnogenol® and cranberry have on reducing systemic oxidative stress in subjects experiencing urinary tract infections.

Source: Ledda, A., S. Hu, M. R. Cesarone, G. Belcaro, M. Dugall, B. Feragalli, R. Cotellese et al. “Pycnogenol® supplementation prevents recurrent urinary tract infections/inflammation and interstitial cystitis.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021 (2021).

© 2021 A. Ledda et al.)is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Posted January 13, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

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  2. Noce A, Di Daniele F, Campo M, et al. Effect of Hydrolysable Tannins and Anthocyanins on Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Nephropathic Patients: Preliminary Data. Nutrients. Feb 11 2021;13(2)doi:10.3390/nu13020591
  3. Opatowski M, Brun-Buisson C, Touat M, et al. Antibiotic prescriptions and risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in patients hospitalized with urinary tract infection: a matched case-control study using the French health insurance database (SNDS). BMC Infect Dis. Jun 14 2021;21(1):571. doi:10.1186/s12879-021-06287-1
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  6. Ezzikouri S, Jadid FZ, Hamdi S, Wakrim L, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Benjelloun S. Supplementing Conventional Treatment with Pycnogenol® May Improve Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Type 2 Diabetes: A Mini Review. J Clin Transl Hepatol. Sep 28 2016;4(3):228-233. doi:10.14218/jcth.2016.00021