Pycnogenol Improved Diabetes Control and Reduced Hypertensive Medications
Pycnogenol, an extract from the bark of a French maritime pine tree, was found to lower the blood sugar in those individuals who had diabetes and allowed them to lower their antihypertensive medication thus lowering their cardiovascular risk profile. This study, published in the May 2008 journal of Nutrition Research, indicates that Pycnogenol might serve as an important complementary therapy when used with conventional medicine. According to this study, there are approximately 20 million people living in the U.S. that might benefit from this adjunctive therapy.
“Half of the people with diabetes experience high blood pressure and many have problems with cholesterol, and now it has been documented that Pycnogenol mediates a number of beneficial effects on both people with diabetes and healthy individuals” according to Dr. Watson, the lead researcher of the study. This is a landmark study because it is the “first study to suggest that Pycnogenol might also be beneficial in protecting kidney function in diabetics” stated Dr. Watson.
The study was a 12 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial consisting of 48 men and women aged 40-75 years with noninsulin-dependent diabetes taking anti-diabetic medications along with antihypertensive medications. The dose of Pycnogenol used was 25 mg, 5 times daily in the study group and placebos in the matched control group.
In the Pycnogenol treated group, blood pressure control was achieved in 58.3 percent of patients at the end of the study with a 50 percent reduction in prescription medications. Furthermore, a potent arterial constrictor typically elevated in people with diabetes was lowered by 17.8 percent, thus accounting for at least part of the mechanism behind the blood pressure control achieved with Pycnogenol. The mean average blood glucose decreased by 16.7 % and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) declined by 11.9%.
Previous studies have shown similar results with Pycnogenol lowering blood sugar without affecting insulin levels. Other studies have shown an increase in the healing of pressure ulcers, and an ability of Pycnogenol to seal leaky capillaries in the eye, thus affecting retinopathy progression.
Further study is needed. We need to know the mechanism of action of Pycnogenol and clinical trials need to be conducted. This group was a very small group to draw statistical conclusions from and then extend the results to 20 million people. It is clear that while this research is promising, much more research needs to be done on a larger scale and the age groups should be stratified. This study included individuals up to 75 years old. People older than 65 should be studied separately to distinguish the variability of age on potential mechanisms involved in the results achieved. The study did use a good design and included both men and women and could serve as a template for future, larger, and even better designed studies.
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
