Pycnogenol

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:

Used for	Amount	Why
Chronic Venous Insufficiency	150 to 300 mg per day	A controlled study reported that supplementing daily with Pycnogenol improved symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and reduced associated leg swelling.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency 150 to 300 mg per day A controlled study reported that 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol improved symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and reduced associated leg swelling.¹ Double-blind trials have also found that 100 mg of Pycnogenol two to three times daily reduced symptoms of CVI and improved measurements of blood flow and pressure inside of the veins.² ^{, 3} A controlled trial found that 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol was more effective for CVI than use of elastic stockings alone, but that a combination of the two was better than either treatment alone.⁴ Several preliminary studies of CVI have investigated pycnogenol in comparison to or combined with other flavonoid extracts. These studies reported that Pycnogenol (150 to 300 mg per day) was more effective than 1,000 mg per day of a flavonoid mixture of 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin,⁵ that 360 mg per day of Pycnogenol was more effective than 600 mg per day of horse chestnut seed extract,⁶ and that a daily combination of 40 mg Pycnogenol and 940 mg hydroxyethylrutosides was more effective than 1,200 mg per day of hydroxyethylrutosides alone.⁷ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Retinopathy	120 to 150 mg per day	Preliminary and double blind studies have shown that daily supplementation with Pycnogenol may slow the progression of retinopathy and improve vision.
Retinopathy 120 to 150 mg per day Preliminary and double blind studies have shown that Pycnogenol slows the progression of retinopathy and improves vision when given in typical amounts of 120 to 150 mg per day. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Age-Related Cognitive Decline	150 mg per day	A study of healthy senior people reported that supplementing daily with Pycnogenol improved some measures of memory after three months, compared with a group taking a placebo.
Age-Related Cognitive Decline 150 mg per day A double-blind study of healthy senior people reported that 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol improved some measures of memory after three months, compared with a group taking a placebo.⁸ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Asthma	1 mg per pound of body weight per day, in two divided doses	In one trial, supplementing with Pycnogenol improved lung function and asthma symptoms and reduced the need for rescue medication in children with asthma.
Asthma 1 mg per pound of body weight per day, in two divided doses In a double-blind trial, supplementing with Pycnogenol significantly improved lung function and asthma symptoms and significantly reduced the need for rescue medication in a group of children (ages 6 to 18 years) with asthma.⁹ In contrast, no significant changes were seen in the placebo group. The amount of Pycnogenol used was 1 mg per pound of body weight per day, in two divided doses, for three months. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Attention Deficit–Hyperactivity Disorder	1 mg daily per 2.2 pounds body weight daily	Though another story did not find effect, one study reported that Pycnogenol reduced symptoms of hyperactivity and improved attention, coordination, and concentration after one month in a group of children with ADHD.
Attention Deficit–Hyperactivity Disorder 1 mg daily per 2.2 pounds body weight daily A double-blind study in Slovakia reported that 1 mg daily per 2.2 pounds body weight of Pycnogenol reduced symptoms of hyperactivity and improved attention, coordination, and concentration after one month in a group of children with ADHD.¹⁰ However, a double-blind study in adults with ADHD did not find 1 mg Pycnogenol per pound of body weight daily was effective for ADHD symptoms.¹¹ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Dysmenorrhea	60 mg per day	Preliminary research and double-blind research has reported that pycnogenol may reduce severe abdominal and back pain during menses.
Dysmenorrhea 60 mg per day Preliminary research reported that 60 mg Pycnogenol twice daily for two months reduced abdominal and back pain during menses.¹² A double blind trial by the same researchers using 60 mg Pycnogenol per day confirmed these findings for women with more severe pain, but not for those whose menstrual pain was mild.¹³ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Erectile Dysfunction	120 mg daily	In one study of men with erectile dysfunction, supplementing with Pycnogenol improved erectile function.
Erectile Dysfunction 120 mg daily In a double-blind study of men with erectile dysfunction, supplementing with 120 mg per day of Pycnogenol improved erectile function, whereas placebo treatment had no effect.¹⁶ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Gingivitis	6 pieces chewing gum per day containing 5 mg each	In a double blind trial, people with gingivitis who chewed six pieces daily of a gum had less gum bleeding and no additional plaque formation, compared with a placebo group.
Gingivitis 6 pieces chewing gum per day containing 5 mg each In a double blind trial, people with gingivitis chewed six pieces daily of a gum, each containing 5 mg Pycnogenol.¹⁷ While a group chewing gum without pycnogenol experienced continued gum bleeding and plaque formation after 14 days, the pycnogenol group had less gum bleeding and no additional plaque formation. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Jet Lag	150 mg per day for seven days, beginning two days before travel	In controlled studies, Pycnogenol taken for two days before and five days after air travel led to milder symptoms that lasted for a shorter period of time, compared with untreated control groups.
Jet Lag 150 mg per day for seven days, beginning two days before travel In controlled studies, 150 mg of Pycnogenol was taken for two days before and five days after air travel.¹⁹ Jet lag symptoms were milder and lasted for a shorter period of time compared with untreated control groups. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Lupus	60 to 120 mg per day	In a small, controlled study, Pycnogenol seemed to help decrease systemic lupus erythematosus activity, measured with a combination of signs, symptoms, and blood measurements.
Lupus 60 to 120 mg per day In a small, controlled study, people with SLE were given medication and either a placebo or Pycnogenol in the amount of 120 mg per day for 30 days followed by 60 mg per day for another 30 days. SLE disease activity, measured with a combination of signs, symptoms, and blood measurements, declined further in the group taking Pycnogenol.²⁰ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Menopause	200 mg per day	In a double-blind trial, perimenopausal women who took Pycnogenol experienced reduced menopause symptoms.
Menopause 200 mg per day In a double-blind trial, perimenopausal women who took 200 mg per day of Pycnogenol experienced reduction of menopausal symptoms as measured by a women’s health questionnaire.²¹ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Osteoarthritis	100 to 150 mg per day	Double-blind research has shown that Pycnogenol may improve symptoms of osteoarthritis, including reducing pain and the use of pain-relieving medication and improving walking performance.
Osteoarthritis 100 to 150 mg per day In a double-blind trial, 100 mg per day of Pycnogenol reduced pain and other osteoarthritis symptoms, improved walking performance, and reduced the use of pain-relieving medication.²² Another double blind trial found that 150 mg per day also improved symptoms and reduced use of pain-relieving medication.²³ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Skin Ulcers	150 mg per day orally, along with topical application of 100 mg daily	In a controlled study, symptoms of diabetic skin ulcers improved in those treated with standard medications plus oral and topical Pycnogenol.
Skin Ulcers 150 mg per day orally, along with topical application of 100 mg daily In a controlled study, diabetic skin ulcers were treated with standard medications plus either 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol orally, 100 mg Pycnogenol topically applied to the ulcers daily, or a combination of oral and topical Pycnogenol treatment.²⁴ All treatments produced complete healing in more subjects after six weeks compared with a control group receiving no Pycnogenol treatment, but the group receiving oral and topical Pycnogenol had the greatest reductions in ulcer size and in pain and other associated symptoms. In a small controlled study of venous skin ulcers, the same combination of oral and topical Pycnogenol was more effective for healing than oral Pycnogenol treatment alone.²⁵ Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Sunburn	1.1 to 1.66 mg per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight per day during periods of high sun exposure	Proanthocyanidins (flavonoids found in pine bark, grape seed, and other plant sources) may increase the amount of ultraviolet rays necessary to cause sunburn.
Sunburn 1.1 to 1.66 mg per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight per day during periods of high sun exposure Proanthocyanidins (OPCs) are a group of flavonoids found in pine bark, grape seed, and other plant sources. In a preliminary trial, volunteers were supplemented with Pycnogenol, an extract of French maritime pine bark rich in OPCs, in the amount of 1.1 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day for the first four weeks, and 1.66 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day for the next four weeks.²⁶ Compared with ultraviolet sensitivity before supplementation, the lower amount of Pycnogenol was found to significantly increase the amount of ultraviolet rays necessary to cause sunburn, and the higher amount was significantly more effective than the lower amount. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Type 2 Diabetes	100 to 150 mg per day	Preliminary research has suggested that Pycnogenol might help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes and slow progression of complications such as retinopathy.
Type 2 Diabetes 100 to 150 mg per day Preliminary research has suggested that Pycnogenol might help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.²⁷ Double-blind trials have shown that 100 to 125 mg per day of Pycnogenol lowers blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, but improvement in measures of long-term blood sugar control has not been consistent.²⁸ ^{, 29} Preliminary and double-blind studies have also shown Pycnogenol (typically 120 to 150 mg per day) slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy and improves vision.³⁰ ^{, 31} ^{, 32} ^{, 33} In a controlled trial of diabetic patients with symptoms of damage to the small blood vessels of the lower legs and feet, 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol improved measures of skin health and blood flow to the feet.³⁴ In another controlled study, diabetic skin ulcers were treated with standard medications plus either 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol orally, 100 mg pycnogenol topically applied to the ulcers, or a combination of oral and topical Pycnogenol treatment.³⁵ All treatments produced complete healing in more subjects after six weeks compared with a control group receiving no Pycnogenol treatment, but the group receiving oral and topical Pycnogenol had the greatest reductions in ulcer size and in pain and other associated symptoms. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Venous Thrombosis	For plane travel: 200 mg two to three hours before a flight, 200 mg six hours later, and 100 mg on the following day	People at risk for venous thrombosis during plane travel were shown a video explaining in-flight exercises to prevent venous thrombosis and also followed a regimen of Pycnogenol, which appears to reduce frequency of episodes of venous thrombosis.
Venous Thrombosis For plane travel: 200 mg two to three hours before a flight, 200 mg six hours later, and 100 mg on the following day In a controlled study, people at risk for venous thrombosis during plane travel were shown a video explaining in-flight exercises to prevent venous thrombosis and also followed a regimen of 200 mg of pycnogenol two to three hours before the flight, 200 mg six hours later, and 100 mg on the following day.³⁶ Compared with a similar group who only viewed the video, the group taking pycnogenol experienced fewer episodes of venous thrombosis.

Used for	Amount	Why
Endometriosis	60 mg per day	In a preliminary study, symptoms of endometriosis gradually declined when women took Pycnogenol.
Endometriosis 60 mg per day In a preliminary study,³⁷ symptoms of endometriosis gradually declined when women took 60 mg per day of Pycnogenol, which is high in flavonoids. Double-blind research is needed to confirm these findings. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
High Cholesterol	150 mg per day	Preliminary research suggests that Pycnogenol may lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol in people with normal cholesterol levels.
High Cholesterol 150 mg per day A preliminary study reported that 150 mg per day of Pycnogenol lowered LDL cholesterol and raised HDL cholesterol in two-thirds of a group of people with normal cholesterol levels.³⁸ Double-blind research is needed to confirm these findings. Learn More

Used for	Amount	Why
Leg Cramps	Refer to label instructions	A preliminary study of people experiencing at least four episodes per week of leg cramps due to either athletic activity, circulatory disorders, or unknown causes reported that Pycnogenol significantly reduced cramping.
Leg Cramps A preliminary study of people experiencing at least four episodes per week of leg cramps due to either athletic activity, circulatory disorders, or unknown causes reported that 200 mg per day of Pycnogenol significantly reduced episodes of leg cramps.³⁹ Double-blind research is needed to further explore this use of Pycnogenol.

Used for	Amount	Why
Melasma	75 mg per day	Preliminary research shows that melasma, a disorder of increased skin pigmentation, may be improved by Pycnogenol supplementation.
Melasma 75 mg per day Melasma is a disorder of increased skin pigmentation. In a preliminary study, 80% of women with melasma who took 75 mg per day of Pycnogenol experienced lightening and shrinking of the pigmented area of the skin.⁴⁰ More research is needed to evaluate Pycnogenol for this condition.

Used for	Amount	Why
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support	30 mg per day	In a controlled study, pregnant women who took Pycnogenol reported some relief of pain in the legs, pelvis, hip, and low back.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Support 30 mg per day In a controlled study, pregnant women who took 30 mg per day of Pycnogenol reported some relief of pain in the legs, pelvis, hip, and low back.⁴¹ Double-blind research is needed to confirm these findings. Learn More

Traditional Use (May Not Be Supported by Scientific Studies)

While the French maritime pine has been used as an ornamental tree and for wood products, it has not been used in traditional herbal medicine. Pycnogenol was developed and patented in the 1980s as a rich source of proanthocyanidins.

About this treatment

How It Works

Pycnogenol is a mixture of many substances belonging to the flavonoid family, primarily proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. Test tube, animal, and preliminary human research has shown Pycnogenol to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity through several biological mechanisms, as well as blood-thinning, blood vessel–relaxing, and connective tissue–strengthening effects.

How to Use It

60 to 300 mg daily

Interactions

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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