The Pycnogenol Myth

[HysteryDiagnosis]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10498385
Thromb Res. 1999 Aug 15;95(4):155-61.
Inhibition of smoking-induced platelet aggregation by aspirin and pycnogenol.
Pütter M, Grotemeyer KH, Würthwein G, Araghi-Niknam M, Watson RR, Hosseini S, Rohdewald P.
Source

Department of Neurology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
Abstract

The effects of a bioflavonoid mixture, Pycnogenol, were assessed on platelet function in humans. Cigarette smoking increased heart rate and blood pressure. These increases were not influenced by oral consumption of Pycnogenol or Aspirin just before smoking. However, increased platelet reactivity yielding aggregation 2 hours after smoking was prevented by 500 mg Aspirin or 100 mg Pycnogenol in 22 German heavy smokers. In a group of 16 American smokers, blood pressure increased after smoking. It was unchanged after intake of 500 mg Aspirin or 125 mg Pycnogenol. In another group of 19 American smokers, increased platelet aggregation was more significantly reduced by 200 than either 150 mg or 100 mg Pycnogenol supplementation.


This study showed that a single, high dose, 200 mg Pycnogenol, remained effective for over 6 days against smoking-induced platelet aggregation. Smoking increased platelet aggregation that was prevented after administration of 500 mg Aspirin and 125 mg Pycnogenol. Thus, smoking-induced enhanced platelet aggregation was inhibited by 500 mg Aspirin as well as by a lower range of 100-125 mg Pycnogenol. Aspirin significantly (p<0.001) increased bleeding time from 167 to 236 seconds while Pycnogenol did not. These observations suggest an advantageous risk-benefit ratio for Pycnogenol.

PMID:
10498385

[ThatPoetGuy]

1. What is the myth?

I feel like I'm mything something.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Someone brought it up in the Mythical Mercury thread and I intend to put it to bed. nt

[ThatPoetGuy]

3. Brought what up?

What myth are you referring to?

It's like you're trying to refute something but not saying what.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. If I have to explain it.... I didn't use the sarcasm font, (we really need one) but

someone was making a jab at pycnogenol and myself at the same time. I intend to refute that jab with facts.

Myth #2: Pycnogenol cannot be used as part of a nutritional regimen to inhibit the production of sickle cells. Geez would you look at the date on this one.

Nutrition. 2000 May;16(5):330-8.
Sickle cell anemia: a potential nutritional approach for a molecular disease.
Ohnishi ST, Ohnishi T, Ogunmola GB.
Source

Philadelphia Biomedical Research Institute, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, USA. [e-mail]
Abstract

A certain population of red blood cells in patients with sickle cell anemia has an elevated density and possesses an abnormal membrane. These "dense cells" have a tendency to adhere to neutrophils, platelets, and vascular endothelial cells, and, thus, they could trigger vasoocclusion and the subsequent painful crisis from which these patients suffer. We developed a laboratory method of preparing such dense cells and found that nutritional antioxidant supplements, hydroxyl radical scavengers, and iron-binding agents could inhibit the formation of dense cells in vitro.

The concentrations at which effective nutritional supplements could inhibit dense cell formation by 50% were 4.0 mg/mL for aged garlic extract, 0.38 mg/mL for black tea extract, 0.13 mg/mL for green tea extract, 0.07 mg/mL for Pycnogenol, 930 microM for alpha-lipoic acid, 270 microM for vitamin E, 45 microM for coenzyme Q(10), and 32 microM for beta-carotene. Both an ex vivo study and a pilot clinical trial demonstrated that a cocktail consisting of daily doses of 6 g of aged garlic extract, 4-6 g of vitamin C, and 800 to 1200 IU of vitamin E may indeed be beneficial to the patients.
Comment in

* Nutrition. 2000 Nov-Dec;16(11-12):1098-100.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. ADHD, catecholamines and pycnogenol

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18019397

Nutr Neurosci. 2007 Jun-Aug;10(3-4):151-7.
Urinary catecholamines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): modulation by a polyphenolic extract from pine bark (pycnogenol).
Dvoráková M, Jezová D, Blazícek P, Trebatická J, Skodácek I, Suba J, Iveta W, Rohdewald P, Duracková Z.
Source

Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. [e-mail]
Abstract

Our study tested the hypothesis that treatment with a potent polyphenol complex not only reduces hyperactivity of children, but also catecholamine excretion and oxidative stress. Urine catecholamine concentrations were measured in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children and healthy controls. ADHD children received either placebo (PL) or Pycnogenol (Pyc), a bioflavonoid extract from the pine bark, for one month. The study was performed in a randomized, double-blind, PL controlled design. Concentrations of catecholamines were higher in urine of ADHD patients compared to those of healthy children.

Moreover, noradrenaline (NA) concentrations positively correlated with degree of hyperactivity of ADHD children. In ADHD patients, adrenaline (A) and NA concentrations positively correlated with plasma levels of oxidized glutathione. The treatment of ADHD children with Pyc caused decrease of dopamine (D) and trend of A and NA decrase and increased GSH/GSSG ratio. In conclusion, the data provide further evidence for the overactivity of the noradrenergic system in ADHD and demonstrate that A release may be increased, as well. Treatment of ADHD children with Pyc normalized catecholamine concentrations, leading to less hyperactivity, and, consequently, to reduced oxidative stress.

PMID:
18019397


Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Pycnogenol and Asthma

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15641632

J Asthma. 2004;41(8):825-32.
Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma.
Lau BH, Riesen SK, Truong KP, Lau EW, Rohdewald P, Barreta RA.
Source

Division of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. [e-mail]
Abstract

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 60 subjects, aged 6-18 years old, was conducted over a period of 3 months to determine the effect of Pycnogenol (a proprietary mixture of water-soluble bioflavonoids extracted from French maritime pine) on mild-to-moderate asthma. After baseline evaluation, subjects were randomized into two groups to receive either Pycnogenol or placebo. Subjects were instructed to record their peak expiratory flow with an Assess Peak Flow Meter each evening. At the same time, symptoms, daily use of rescue inhalers (albuterol), and any changes in oral medications were also recorded. Urine samples were obtained from the subjects at the end of the run-in period, and at 1-, 2-, and 3-month visits.

Urinary leukotriene C4/D4/E4 was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Compared with subjects taking placebo, the group who took Pycnogenol had significantly more improvement in pulmonary functions and asthma symptoms. The Pycnogenol group was able to reduce or discontinue their use of rescue inhalers more often than the placebo group. There was also a significant reduction of urinary leukotrienes in the Pycnogenol group. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of mild-to-moderate childhood asthma.

PMID:
15641632

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. Pycnogenol and ocular disease

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19076553

Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2008 Nov;28(6):503-23.
Nutritional supplementation for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.
Bartlett HE, Eperjesi F.
Source

Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. [e-mail]
Abstract

The role of nutritional supplementation is of increasing interest with regard to ocular disease. Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of supplementation for age-related macular degeneration, and formulations are now being developed for use by people with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this review was to synthesise the evidence for use of nutritional supplementation in type 2 diabetes. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched using a systematic approach. Only double-masked randomised controlled trials were selected.

A total of 50 trials were identified as suitable for inclusion. The potential role of alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, folic acid, isoflavones, magnesium, Pycnogenol, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is discussed. The review of trials identifies positive effects of these nutrients on various outcome measures relating to insulin resistance and cardiovascular factors. Chromium was the most studied supplement, accounting for 16 of the 50 trials. A majority of the trials found a positive effect of chromium on fasting plasma glucose. Isoflavones were found to have a positive effect on insulin resistance and cardiovascular outcome measures, but only when combined with soy proteins. Vitamin E is reported to reduce oxidative stress at levels of 200 mg day(-1) or more.

PMID:
19076553


Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Pycnogenol and endothelial dysfunction

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18037769

Hypertens Res. 2007 Sep;30(9):775-80.
Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans.
Nishioka K, Hidaka T, Nakamura S, Umemura T, Jitsuiki D, Soga J, Goto C, Chayama K, Yoshizumi M, Higashi Y.
Source

Department of Cardiovascular Physiology and Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
Abstract

Pycnogenol, an extract of bark from the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster Ait., consists of a concentrate of water-soluble polyphenols. Pycnogenol contains the bioflavonoids catechin and taxifolin as well as phenolcarbonic acids. Antioxidants, such as bioflavonoids, enhance endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase expression and subsequent NO release from endothelial cells.

The purpose of this study was to determine Pycnogenol's effects on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo and active drug study. We evaluated forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to acetylcholine (ACh), an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an endothelium-independent vasodilator, in healthy young men before and after 2 weeks of daily oral administration of Pycnogenol (180 mg/day) (n=8) or placebo (n=8). FBF was measured by using strain-gauge plethysmography.

Neither the placebo nor Pycnogenol altered forearm or systemic hemodynamics. Pycnogenol, but not placebo, augmented FBF response to ACh, from 13.1 +/- 7.0 to 18.5 +/- 4.0 mL/min per 100 mL tissue (p<0.05). SNP-stimulated vasodilation was similar before and after 2 weeks of treatment in the control and Pycnogenol groups. The administration of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, an NO synthase inhibitor, completely abolished Pycnogenol-induced augmentation of the FBF response to ACh. These findings suggest that Pycnogenol augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation by increasing in NO production. Pycnogenol would be useful for treating various diseases whose pathogeneses involve endothelial dysfunction.

PMID:
18037769

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. Pycnogenol and your aging skin

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19651792

Toxicol Ind Health. 2009 May-Jun;25(4-5):231-9.
In-vivo data on the influence of tobacco smoke and UV light on murine skin.
Pavlou P, Rallis M, Deliconstantinos G, Papaioannou G, Grando SA.
Source

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract

Inhaled tobacco smoke comes in direct contact with few organs such as mouth, lungs, and stomach. Cigarette smoke (CS) in lungs has been extensively studied. However, limited data exist on its effect on skin, and there are no long-term experimental studies suggesting toxic effects on skin. Even though it is generally accepted that CS is among the main factors of skin aging, the number of experimental studies showing this aging effect is limited. We hereby studied the effect of long-term exposure to CS on the skin of hairless mice in combination with or without ultraviolet (UV) light. In addition, we investigated potential skin protection by a potent antioxidant namely procyanidine-rich French maritime pine bark extract (PBE) pycnogenol.

Male and female hairless SKH-2 mice were exposed for 10 months to tobacco smoke and/or UV light in vivo, and their effects on skin were investigated. Some biophysical parameters such as development of erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin elasticity were measured. The results show that UV and CS may be acting synergistically, as shown by the enhanced TEWL, erythema values, epitheliomas, and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) observed, whereas PBE seems to protect skin against SCC.

PMID:
19651792