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Pycnogenol, Natures Super Antioxidant, Fighting Inflammation |
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Pycnogenol®, Nature’s Super Antioxidant,
Fighting Inflammation
by Frank Schönlau, Ph.D.
The health community is paying
more and more attention to
inflammation in the body and the
possible long-term consequences
on an individual’s health if not
treated properly. Years ago, if a patient developed
swelling or inflammation, it was treated
depending on the level of discomfort. Many
people didn’t even bother going to the doctor
if the symptoms were tolerable; they dismissed
it, simply waiting for the aliment to
heal itself. Today there is mounting evidence
that inflammation can make a significant
impact on one’s health.
According to a report published last year
in the Journal of the American Medical
Association, doctors are suspecting—and
gathering an alarming amount of proof—
that inflammation, whether triggered by an
infection or another health condition, can
damage the walls of heart arteries, making
them prone to fat buildups that can lead to
heart attacks.
Inflammation can result from arthritis,
allergies, asthma, stress or even minor sinus
or wound infections. It is much more serious
than we thought; even a small amount left
for a long period of time can have severe
consequences and lead to heart disease.
Americans are becoming smarter consumers,
taking charge of their health by educating
themselves and taking preventative measures
such as changing their lifestyles by incorporating
proper diet and exercise and increasing
their intake of antioxidants through diet or
supplementation, such as Pycnogenol®
(pic-noj-en-all).
Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark
extract, is a super antioxidant that helps
reduce inflammation by neutralizing free
radicals released by inflammation. More than
decade of research (90 studies in all) has
shown that one of its primary benefits is its
increasingly important role in the prevention
of risk factors such as inflammation and high
blood pressure that may cause heart disease.
The following describes research findings
on Pycnogenol’s ability to counteract inflammation
in some of the most common health
conditions. The majority of these studies
involve the cardiovascular system providing
solid evidence that this antioxidant is the
most powerful in reducing inflammation,
strengthening the vascular system, lowering
high blood pressure and cholesterol and
fighting the effects of smoking and other
environmental factors on the heart.
Hypertension
Hypertension is the major U.S. cause of
premature death due to heart disease. The
elevated blood pressure causes physical stress
to blood cells and vessel walls which in turn
initiates an inflammatory process, leading to
an increased risk of heart disease. Dr. Ronald
Watson of the University of Arizona has
researched the health benefits of Pycnogenol
for his patients for years. He published the
results of a clinical study demonstrating that
Pycnogenol reduces blood pressure in mild
hypertensives.
 Dr. Watson also discovered that
Pycnogenol inhibits platelet aggregation
induced by cigarette smoking, without the
adverse effect on bleeding time that characterizes
aspirin use. This means that it helps
reduce the risk of blood clots that can restrict
blood flow through the blood vessels, leading
to inflammation and clotting. Pycnogenol’s
bioflavonoids repressed smoke-activated
platelets, reducing another risk factor of
hypertension. Further evidence of its effectiveness
as an antioxidant is the patent
awarded to Pycnogenol for its ability to scavenge harmful free radicals.
The most recent correlation between
Pycnogenol and heart health is a clinical
study on cholesterol reduction. Results of the
study found that Pycnogenol significantly
reduced the LDL-cholesterol levels (often
referred to as “bad” cholesterol) in the blood,
while the HDL-cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)
was elevated. LDL-cholesterol is the
cause for deposits of fatty streaks on artery
walls which in turn get inflamed, the onset of
atherosclerosis. Once again, this powerful
antioxidant reduced another risk factor of
heart disease.
Asthma
Asthma is believed to result from inflammatory
processes of the bronchi, causing them
to constrict and swell, aggravating airflow. In
many patients this can cause an obstruction
of the airways. A clinical study by Dr.
Watson showed that after taking Pycnogenol,
asthmatics noted improvement of their
breathing ability. This was a result of
Pycnogenol’s capability to reduce significantly
inflammatory mediators.
Allergies and Hay Fever
Allergies are inappropriate responses of the
body’s immune system toward substances it
mistakenly perceives as harmful. Allergens
causing these reactions are most commonly
pollen, dust, certain metals, animal hair or
food additives. When an allergic person comes
into contact with an allergen, a particular
subset of the immune system release the histamine.
During this immediate reaction, histamine
triggers symptoms common to allergies:
sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, skin
rashes and swelling. Inflammatory mediators
may cause these symptoms to persist.
According to several clinical studies,
Pycnogenol inhibits the release of histamine,
thus preventing the immediate reaction
toward a challenge with an antigen; because
it is an anti-inflammatory, it inhibits production
of pro-flammatory mediators. It relieves
the swelling, reduces hives and helps make
breathing easier.
What makes Pycnogenol French maritime
pine bark extract unique in the vast sea of
dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and
natural products lining store shelves in the
fight against inflammation is that it is an
evidence-based antioxidant. As discussed
earlier, millions of dollars have been spent in
extensive research and clinical evidence has
been conducted to assure the safety and efficacy
of Pycnogenol as a dietary supplement.
So, continue to stay healthy and fight
inflammation in some of the most common
health conditions that can surface daily by
taking nature’s super antioxidant, Pycnogenol.
To learn more about Pycnogenol research
and its fight against inflammation, visit
www.pycnogenol.com TH
Frank Schönlau, Ph.D. is director of scientific communication at Horphag Research.
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