Natural Products

Pycnogenol

Pinus pinaster, pinus maritima, pine bark extract

Efficacy

• Indications with proven efficacy:
  None
• Indications with possible, but poorly documented efficacy - the use of this product cannot be recommended:
  Chronic venous insufficiency
  Increase exercise capacity
  Retinopathies
• Also used for these other indications, but with no proof of efficacy:
  Allergies
  Cardiovascular protection
  Inflammation
  Ischemia
  Peripheral circulatory problems
  To delay aging
  To reduce tumor growth (adjunct)
  To reduce collagen and synovial fluid degradation
  Skin aging (topically)

Security

• Risk of Drug Interactions: Low
• Adverse Effects: Rare

What is it?

Pycnogenol designates a preparation containing bioflavonoids extracted from french maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster, synonym Pinus maritima). Pycnogenol is thought to have significant antioxidant activity. In fact, this product is considered to be a potent free radical scavenger. Available as a dietary supplement, pycnogenol may enhance circulation, reduce inflammation and protect collagen against natural degradation. It has been available in Europe for quite some time where it is used both orally as a dietary supplement and topically as part of anti-aging creams. In Canada, pycnogenol is available in capsules usualy standardize with 70% proanthocyanidins.

Warning

In 2004, Canada adopted new regulations that control the manufacturing, packaging, labeling and importing of natural health products. The new regulations also include an adverse reaction reporting system. Products that conform to the regulation's criteria are identified with a natural product number (NPN) or homeopathic medicine number (DIN-HM) and can be legally sold in Canada. This number indicates that the product meets specific criteria for safety and purity, not that it is effective for any indication.

Medicinal plants content varies naturally from plant to plant – just as fruits from the same package may vary in taste and texture. There is no standard to measure the active content of each plant. Thus, efficacy of natural products should be expected to vary from brand to brand as well as from bottle to bottle of the same brand.

For more information about the Natural Health Products Regulations, or to check if a product has been assessed, visit the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/index-eng.php.

Does it work?

There is no evidence that pycnogenol is effective in any indication. However, it is used to treat certain medical conditions where it may be of some benefit:

• Chronic venous insufficiency:
  Pycnogenol seems to reduce leg pain and heaviness, and edema when used for 3 to 12 weeks. Most of the time, doses of 100 to 120 mg 3 times daily have been used, but a lower dose of 45 to 90 mg daily seems to be effective.
• Increase exercise capacity:
  Pycnogenol appears to increase treadmill exercise capacity in recreational athletes aged 20 to 35 years. Dosage used is 200 mg daily for 30 days.
• Retinopathies:
  Pycnogenol 50 mg 3 times daily seems to slow or prevent deterioration of retinal function in patients with retinopathy caused by diabetes, atherosclerosis or central venous thrombosis.

There is insufficient reliable information to conclude that pycnogenol is effective in any other indication, including topically.

Is it safe?

• Pycnogenol is not associated with any specific toxicity. There has been no report of adverse effects except for mild intestinal upset. Its long-term safety is not established. No allergies are associated with its use.
• Since there is no safety data available concerning its use during pregnancy and breast-feeding, pregnant and lactating women should not take pycnogenol.

Clinical notes

• Pycnogenol has interesting properties, but available information is insufficient to conclude to its efficacy. The product may be extracted from pine bark, although other more practical sources can be used, such as peanut skins and grape seeds.
• Originally, the term pycnogenol was used as a generic term for proanthocyanidines. Now, Pycnogenol is the US registered trademark for a specific extract derived from French Maritime Pine Bark.

References

1. Facts & Comparisons, The Lawrence review of Natural Products, 1999
2. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2007
3. Passeportsanté.net. Pycnogenol. http://www.passeportsante.net