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Pycnogenol

Pycnogenol is a standardized extract of French maritime pine bark, rich in plant antioxidants that may help strengthen small blood vessels and calm inflammation. People mostly look at it for chronic venous insufficiency, where leg veins struggle to return blood, and a controlled trial of 126 people found their signs of the condition improved, with moderate evidence overall. That evidence rests largely on one modest trial, and the other findings, such as better blood flow and osteoarthritis symptoms, came from small or single studies.

Sources: PMID 16708123

Best evidence
Grade B
Conditions studied
13
Outcomes
34
Graded outcomes
0550

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

13 conditions

General Cardiovascular Health

General Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect1 study838 people

Studies that measured blood glucose

Blood Flow

Moderate Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study16 people

Studies that measured blood flow

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic Venous Insufficiency: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study126 people

Studies that measured chronic venous insufficiency signs

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)1 study40 people

Studies that measured high-density lipoprotein (hdl)

Leg EdemaChanges; see studies1 study423 people

Studies that measured leg edema

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies1 study40 people

Studies that measured low-density lipoprotein (ldl)

Total cholesterolChanges; see studies40 people

Osteoarthritis (OA)

  • Osteoarthritis Symptoms: improves
  • Pain: changes; see studies
Osteoarthritis (OA): outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect1 study191 people

Studies that measured osteoarthritis symptoms

PainChanges; see studies35 people

Type 2 Diabetes

  • Blood glucose: improves
  • Blood Pressure: changes; see studies
  • Endothelin-1: improves
Type 2 Diabetes: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect1 study75 people

Studies that measured blood glucose

Blood PressureChanges; see studies2 studies45 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

Endothelin-1Improves (the measure goes up)1 study75 people

Studies that measured endothelin-1

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Changes; see studies1 study45 people

Studies that measured low-density lipoprotein (ldl)

HbA1cChanges; see studies75 people
InsulinChanges; see studies30 people

Metabolic Health

  • Blood glucose: improves
Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood glucose

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect1 study838 people

Studies that measured blood glucose

High Blood Pressure

  • Blood Flow: improves
  • Blood Pressure: changes; see studies
  • Nitric Oxide: improves
High Blood Pressure: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Flow

Moderate Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study58 people

Studies that measured blood flow

Blood PressureChanges; see studies2 studies69 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

Nitric OxideImproves (the measure goes up)58 people

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

  • Blood Flow: improves
  • Blood Pressure: changes; see studies
  • Heart Rate: changes; see studies
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Flow

Moderate Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study23 people

Studies that measured blood flow

Blood PressureChanges; see studies2 studies23 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

Heart RateChanges; see studies1 study23 people

Studies that measured heart rate

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Changes; see studies23 people
InflammationChanges; see studies23 people
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersChanges; see studies23 people

Cognitive Improvement

  • Attention: improves
  • Cognition: improves
  • Subjective Well-Being: improves
Cognitive Improvement: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Attention

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect53 people
CognitionImproves (the measure goes up)1 study53 people

Studies that measured cognition

Subjective Well-BeingImproves (the measure goes up)53 people

Skin Health

  • Skin Elasticity: improves
  • Skin Quality: improves
Skin Health: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Skin Elasticity

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect20 people
Skin QualityImproves (the measure goes up)1 study20 people

Studies that measured skin quality

Asthma

  • Asthma Symptoms: changes; see studies
Asthma: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Asthma SymptomsChanges; see studies2 studies95 people

Studies that measured asthma symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms: changes; see studies
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Irritable Bowel Syndrome SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study77 people

Studies that measured irritable bowel syndrome symptoms

Male Sexual Dysfunction

  • Erections: improves
Male Sexual Dysfunction: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
ErectionsImproves (the measure goes up)1 study40 people

Studies that measured erections

Menopause

  • Menopausal Symptoms: changes; see studies
Menopause: outcomes studied for Pycnogenol
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Menopausal SymptomsChanges; see studies1 study38 people

Key findings

  • Blood glucoseImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency SignsChronic Venous InsufficiencyImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Osteoarthritis SymptomsOsteoarthritis (OA)Improves (the measure goes down)

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Third-party tested Pycnogenol products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

  • Grade B

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Studies cited

19 studies from PubMed

  1. Comparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiencyPhytother Res · PMID 11933130
  2. Pycnogenol® effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in womenSkin Pharmacol Physiol · PMID 22270036
  3. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementationNutr Res · PMID 19083426
  4. French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol dose-dependently lowers glucose in type 2 diabetic patientsDiabetes Care · PMID 14988316
  5. Pycnogenol((R)) in the Management of AsthmaJ Med Food · PMID 12639402
  6. Pycnogenol® improvements in asthma managementPanminerva Med · PMID 22108478
  7. Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humansHypertens Res · PMID 18037769
  8. Supplementation with a pine bark extract rich in polyphenols increases plasma antioxidant capacity and alters the plasma lipoprotein profileLipids · PMID 12530550
  9. Effects of pycnogenol on cardiometabolic health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Pharmacol Res · PMID 31585179
  10. Effect of Pycnogenol on Blood Pressure: Findings From a PRISMA Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical StudiesAngiology · PMID 31763928
  11. Effects of Pycnogenol on endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over studyEur Heart J · PMID 22240497
  12. Treatment of osteoarthritis with Pycnogenol. The SVOS (San Valentino Osteo-arthrosis Study). Evaluation of signs, symptoms, physical performance and vascular aspectsPhytother Res · PMID 18386255
  13. Comparison of Pycnogenol and Daflon in treating chronic venous insufficiency: a prospective, controlled studyClin Appl Thromb Hemost · PMID 16708123
  14. Efficacy of Functional Foods, Beverages, and Supplements Claiming to Alleviate Air Travel Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients · PMID 33809656
  15. Pycnogenol® supplementation improves cognitive function, attention and mental performance in studentsPanminerva Med · PMID 22108481
  16. Treatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L-arginineJ Sex Marital Ther · PMID 12851125
  17. Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patientsLife Sci · PMID 14659974
  18. Supplementation with Pycnogenol® improves signs and symptoms of menopausal transitionPanminerva Med · PMID 22108479
  19. Pycnogenol® supplementation improves the control of irritable bowel syndrome symptomsPanminerva Med · PMID 29737150

Protocols that include Pycnogenol