Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients.

2004-01
Life sciences 74(7)
- Ximing Liu
- Junping Wei
- Fengsen Tan
- Shengming Zhou
- Gudrun Würthwein
- Peter Rohdewald

PubMed: 14659974
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.037

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 58
Population: 58 patients with hypertension
Methods: Placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study; 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks
Blinding: Double-blind
Duration: 12 weeks
Funding: Unclear

A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was performed with 58 patients to investigate effects of French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, on patients with hypertension. Supplementation of the patients with 100 mg Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks helped to reduce the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine in a statistically significant manner. The intake of Pycnogenol decreased endothelin-1 concentrations significantly compared to placebo while concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a in plasma were significantly higher compared to placebo. Values for nitric oxide (NO) in plasma increased in both groups, but the differences were not significant. Angiotensin II concentrations in plasma were lowered in the placebo group to a larger extent than in the Pycnogenol group. Heart rate, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients. Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea. Differences in rate of side effects were not statistically significant between the two groups. Study results support a supplementation with Pycnogenol for mildly hypertensive patients.

Research Insights

Pine→Increased 6-keto Prostaglandin F1a Concentration
concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a in plasma were significantly higher compared to placebo
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Increased Nitric Oxide Level
Values for nitric oxide (NO) in plasma increased in both groups, but the differences were not significant
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Angiotensin II Level
Angiotensin II concentrations in plasma were lowered in the placebo group to a larger extent than in the Pycnogenol group.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Blood Urea Nitrogen Levels
Heart rate, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Electrolyte Level
Heart rate, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Endothelin-1 Level
The intake of Pycnogenol decreased endothelin-1 concentrations significantly compared to placebo
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Heart Rate
Heart rate, electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day
Pine→Reduced Nifedipine Dose
Supplementation of the patients with 100 mg Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks helped to reduce the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine in a statistically significant manner.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
100 mg/day

Adverse Events Reported

Pine→Overall tolerability
Differences in rate of side effects were not statistically significant between the two groups.
Finding
No significant difference
Significant
No
Pine→gastrointestinal problems
Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea.
Finding
Reported
Grade
mild
Pine→headache
Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea.
Finding
Reported
Grade
mild
Pine→nausea
Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea.
Finding
Reported
Grade
mild
Pine→vertigo
Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature, such as gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, headache and nausea.
Finding
Reported
Grade
mild