What is pycnogenol taken for

A slight reduction in asthmatic symptoms has been noted with Pycnogenol supplementation. An improvement in attention has been noted, possibly secondary to improvements in general cognition, in students during prolonged academic testing. An improvement in cognitive function has been noted in students during academic testing. General Oxidation. A reduction in general oxidation is noted following prolonged Pycnogenol supplementation. May reduce LDL cholesterol for as long as pycnogenol is taken some evidence to suggest a normalization after supplement cessation.

A decrease in some symptoms of menopause has been noted with Pycnogenol supplementation. A reduction in pain secondary to improvements in symptoms of osteoarthritis has been noted, and while notable in this certain instance it is not certain if there are inherenet analgesic effects. Skin Elasticity. An improvement in skin elasticity has been noted with Pycnogenol supplementation.

Skin Quality. Oral supplementation of standard doses of procyanidins can improve skin quality in elderly women, other demographics not tested. Subjective Well-Being. An increase in well being and mood has been noted in students undergoing academic testing, which correlated with improved test scores. Blood glucose. Heart Rate. Nitric Oxide. Despite one study establishing the blood flow effects are dependent on nitric oxide, there do not appear to be any significant differences in nitric oxide quantities in saliva.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Reduces symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. Potentially useful as an adjunct to compression therapy. May be proerectile in persons with organic erectile dysfunction due to poor blood flow.

May increase HDL cholesterol, but has mixed evidence to support it and may be unreliable. One open-label study lacks blinding for investigators or subjects and no placebo-control indicated that pynogenol efficacy for IBS symptoms was on par with some of the common pharmacological antispasmodic agents. Although the study design was weak, other studies demonstrating that pycnogenol has a relaxing effect on intestinal smooth muscle tissue lends some increased confidence that it may also be effective as a treatment for IBS.

NF-kB Activity. Total cholesterol. Possible cholesterol lowering effects of small magnitude, but these are not wholly reliable. Insulin Secretion. Stay on top of the latest research. Start your day free trial. Study Deep Dives. A combination supplement pycnogenol with collagen, coenzyme Q10 , and other ingredients reduced skin aging, elasticity, hydration, and tonicity in a study of 30 women [ 65 ].

The combination of L-arginine and Pycnogenol may help in erectile dysfunction by boosting nitric oxide, which potentially could improve blood flow in men [ 66 ]. In a clinical trial of 40 men with erectile dysfunction, It also slightly decreased blood pressure and increased testosterone [ 67 ]. A combination product with Pycnogenol Lady Prelox improved sexual function in a clinical trial of 83 healthy postmenopausal women after 8 weeks.

The study suggests it may increase desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and reduce pain [ 70 ]. These benefits appeared to persist for some time even after stopping supplementation [ 72 ]. Another study of 47 women found that supplementing with 30 mg Pycnogenol twice daily for over 1 month may reduce menstrual pain [ 73 ]. In a study of healthy women mostly in their early 40s with mild sexual dysfunction, a combination product with Pycnogenol Lady Prelox improved sexual function over 8 weeks [ 74 ].

A study of 50 mildly infertile men found that a combination of L-arginine, L-citrulline , roburins, and Pycnogenol Prelox R may improve sperm quality, volume, and concentration [ 75 ]. In a study of 72 children undergoing cancer chemotherapy, Pycnogenol reduced painful mouth ulcers, both alone and in combination with vitamin E [ 79 ]. In combination with Mirtoselect, Pycnogenol may improve blood flow to the eye and reduce eye blood pressure as shown in a trial of 38 people [ 81 ].

Enzogenol, a slightly different pine bark extract, may help improve brain function after mild concussions. It decreased concussion symptoms in 42 student-athletes with a history of sports-related concussions after 6 weeks.

Enzogenol also may reduce mental fatigue and sleep problems [ 82 ]. A study of 68 people found that Pycnogenol, started 2 days prior to flying, may reduce the duration of jet lag symptoms [ 83 ]. A study of 66 healthy adults found that Pycnogenol may reduce the number of leg cramps experienced [ 11 ]. However, these studies appear to be methodologically sound and reliable, with no blatant errors in the study design and data collection.

Pycnogenol is considered possibly safe when taken orally or when applied topically as a cream or ointment. Studies have also safely used Pycnogenol in children and during pregnancy. However, research on these two groups is limited [ 71 , 15 ]. Pycnogenol acts as a sustained-release formulation. But the actual bioavailability of this complex mixture is still unknown.

Since components of Pycnogenol can be modified during digestion and absorption as well as by the liver, diseases that affect the gut or liver may increase or decrease its effects [ 84 ].

Pycnogenol is not approved by the FDA for medical use. Regulations set manufacturing standards for supplements, but that does not guarantee that they are safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing. There is currently insufficient evidence to determine what a safe and effective dose of lysine is for specific conditions.

Various brands of pycnogenol are available. Some pycnogenol supplements are mixed with other antioxidants, such as vitamin C.

Pine bark extracts other than pycnogenol are also sold. Although these may still be high quality, the active compounds are more likely to vary.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.

Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Pycnogenol is the trade name for an extract of French maritime pine bark Pinus pinaster.

It is a natural source of several antioxidants including proanthocyanidins, which are also found in wine, grapes, apples, cocoa, tea, nuts, and some berries. Pycnogenol is often marketed as a supplement for heart and circulatory health and a variety of conditions, including menopause, chronic venous insufficiency, erectile dysfunction ED , high blood pressure , inflammation , diabetes, and tinnitus ringing in the ears.

Many of the studies on pine bark extract have been small and short-term, and it should be noted that few have been done by independent researchers.

Nevertheless, if you're considering taking it, it's worth a look at some of the available research. Pycnogenol has been found to be useful in relieving symptoms in postmenopausal women. The authors of a review published in came to this conclusion and proposed that this effect is related to Pycnogenol's antioxidative effects and improved functioning of the endothelium, the thin membrane lining the inside of the heart.

This paper cites several studies demonstrating that Pycnogenol can improve the availability of nitric oxide, helping to maintain vascular homeostasis and improve circulation. One study in particular showed that Pycnogenol may reduce swelling and pain in people with chronic venous insufficiency—when veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart—which may be improved along with circulation. Pycnogenol has also been explored as a remedy for erectile dysfunction due to its effects on nitric oxide levels and blood flow.

One study published in tested this using a combination of Pycnogenol and other ingredients most commonly L-arginine. While the effects of Pycnogenol alone aren't known, the data is promising with However, it is important to note that only 40 subjects were tested.

Pycnogenol is often touted as a remedy for high blood pressure, inflammation, and other problems known to increase the risk of heart disease; again here, its effects on the functioning of the endothelium are believed to be at play. A small study investigating 48 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure who took either a daily Pycnogenol supplement or a placebo pill for 12 weeks found that those taking Pycnogenol showed improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.

This supports the idea that taking Pycnogenol may help control some cardiovascular risk factors, particularly in this patient population. However, according to a larger study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in , French maritime pine bark extract may not enhance heart health for the general population.

The study involved overweight people, all of whom had elevated blood pressure but weren't taking blood pressure medication.