Uncategorized
The Science Behind Pycnogenol & Menopause
Perimenopause is a transformative phase in a woman’s life, marking the transition from fertility to infertility. This pivotal period comes with a multitude of physiological changes due to fluctuating hormones. Menopausal symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, cognitive challenges, and various other issues that affect a woman’s well-being. Some even experience joint pain and skin changes during this time. The duration of perimenopause can vary widely, affecting women typically between the ages of 45 and 55. Interestingly, how these symptoms are perceived can differ among women from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Traditionally, hormone therapy, especially estrogen-progestogen preparations, has been a go-to solution for managing menopausal symptoms. However, this approach has been associated with potential risks, such as venous thromboembolism, strokes, and even breast cancer. As a result, many women are seeking non-hormonal and natural alternatives to address the complexities of the menopausal transition.
Pycnogenol®: Nature’s Answer to Menopausal Well-being
Pycnogenol®, a standardized, patented French maritime pine bark extract, has emerged as a holistic solution to address various health challenges faced by perimenopausal women. It is important to note that Pycnogenol® has been shown not to impact hormone levels while effectively improving menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular health, and skin vitality. Let’s delve into the findings of several studies that validate these claims:
Relief from Menopausal Symptoms
Multiple studies have involved nearly 500 perimenopausal women, exploring the effects of Pycnogenol® on menopausal symptoms. One study conducted with Taiwanese perimenopausal women found that supplementing with 200 mg of Pycnogenol® daily for 6 months significantly improved various menopausal symptoms compared to a placebo group. These symptoms include somatic issues like tiredness and headaches, vasomotor problems like hot flashes and sweating, depressed mood, memory and concentration difficulties, attractiveness, anxiety, sexual behavior, sleep quality, and menstrual problems.
Another study evaluated 70 women in the menopausal transition. After supplementing with 100 mg of Pycnogenol® daily for 8 weeks, participants reported significant improvements in 33 common menopausal complaints, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and more.
Even a lower daily dosage of 60 mg of Pycnogenol® significantly reduced menopausal symptoms in 170 women in another study.
Promoting Cardiovascular Health
Menopause can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. One study involving perimenopausal women supplemented with 100 mg of Pycnogenol® daily for 6 months showed normalization of cardiovascular risk factors. This included reducing slightly elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure to normal values. Factors linked to cardiovascular events, such as homocysteine and CRP values, were also significantly improved. Furthermore, Pycnogenol® notably reduced free radicals in the blood plasma.
As menopause is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, maintaining heart health is crucial. Pycnogenol® has been extensively studied for its positive effects on vascular and endothelial health. It optimizes nitric oxide generation and enhances endothelial function, leading to better tissue perfusion and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.
One study showed that Pycnogenol® significantly improved flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in patients with coronary artery disease. During Pycnogenol® supplementation, FMD increased by 33%, whereas it slightly decreased during the placebo phase.
In hypertensive patients, Pycnogenol® lowered vasoconstrictor levels and increased vasodilatory hormone levels, leading to improved endothelial function.
For patients with type II diabetes and hypertension, Pycnogenol® significantly lowered serum vasoconstrictor levels by 17.8%.
Another study involving 200 perimenopausal women demonstrated that Pycnogenol® not only reduced blood pressure but also improved the lipid profile. LDL-cholesterol decreased by 9.9%, and HDL-cholesterol increased by 4.6% after 6 months of Pycnogenol® supplementation.
Enhancing Skin Health
Pycnogenol® has shown to provide numerous benefits to the skin. These include reducing pigmentation, improving skin hydration, enhancing skin perfusion, and increasing skin elasticity. This leads to a more radiant, youthful complexion with fewer wrinkles.
One study highlighted that Pycnogenol® can reduce over-pigmentation, contributing to a fairer and more homogenous skin complexion. In another study, women with melasma experienced a 22% fairer skin complexion and a 37% reduction in over-pigmented skin areas after 4 weeks of Pycnogenol® supplementation.
UV radiation can accelerate skin aging. Pycnogenol® has been shown to increase resistance to solar UV exposure, which is beneficial for skin health.
Support for Joint Health
Many women in menopause report increased joint pain. Pycnogenol® has demonstrated beneficial effects in patients with osteoarthritis. It decreased the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein by 72% and reactive oxygen species by 30% in one study involving 55 osteoarthritis patients.
Additionally, Pycnogenol® supplementation for 3 months led to improved pain symptoms, stiffness, and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis in another study. These results included a significant reduction of 43% in self-reported pain, 35% in stiffness, and 52% in physical function compared to the placebo group.
In a larger study involving 156 osteoarthritis patients, Pycnogenol® reduced pain scores by 56%. Mobility restrictions and emotional distress associated with osteoarthritis also improved with Pycnogenol® supplementation.
Another study with 170 menopausal women showed that even a lower dosage of 60 mg of Pycnogenol® significantly reduced arthritic or muscular pain by 54.4%.
Conclusion
Pycnogenol®, the French maritime pine bark extract, offers a safe, natural, and evidence-based approach to addressing menopausal symptoms without any adverse effects. The comprehensive data from these studies emphasizes the multi-faceted benefits of Pycnogenol®, ranging from symptom relief to cardiovascular and skin health.
Featured Products
Eye Health
Related Blog Posts
References:
1. Woods NF, Mitchell ES. Symptoms during the perimenopause: prevalence, severity, trajectory, and significance in women’s lives. Am J Med. 2005;118 Suppl 12B:14-24.
2. Wu JM, Zelinski MB, Ingram DK, Ottinger MA. Ovarian Aging and Menopause: Current Theories, Hypotheses, and Research Models. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2005;230(11):818-28.
3. McKinlay SM, Brambilla DJ, Posner JG. The normal menopause transition. Maturitas. 1992;14(2):103-15.
4. Richters JMA. Menopause in Different Cultures. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology. 1997;18(2):73-80.
5. Type and timing of menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk: individual participant meta-analysis of the worldwide epidemiological evidence. Lancet. 2019;394(10204):1159-68.
6. Kohama T, Negami M. Effect of low-dose French maritime pine bark extract on climacteric syndrome in 170 perimenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Reprod Med. 2013;58(1-2):39-46.
7. Yang HM, Liao MF, Zhu SY, Liao MN, Rohdewald P. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007;86(8):978-85.
8. Errichi S, Bottari A, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Hosoi M, Cornelli U, et al. Supplementation with Pycnogenol® improves signs and symptoms of menopausal transition. Panminerva Med. 2011;53(3 Suppl 1):65-70.
9. Luzzi R, Belcaro G, Hosoi M, Feragalli B, Cornelli U, Dugall M, et al. Normalization of cardiovascular risk factors in peri-menopausal women with Pycnogenol(R). Minerva Ginecol. 2017;69(1):29-34.
10. Moreau KL, Hildreth KL. Vascular Aging across the Menopause Transition in Healthy Women. Adv Vasc Med. 2014;2014.
11. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Scipione C, Scipione V, Dugall M, Hu S, et al. Prevention of vaginal dryness in perimenopausal women. Supplementation with Lady Prelox(R). Minerva Ginecol. 2019;71(6):434-41.
12. Bottari A, Belcaro G, Ledda A, Cesarone MR, Vinciguerra G, Di Renzo A, et al. Lady Prelox(R) improves sexual function in post-menopausal women. Panminerva Med. 2012.
13. Stanislavov R, Rohdewald P. PACR (Pine Bark Extract, L Arginine, L Citrulline, Rose Hip Extract)Improves Emotional, Physical Health and Sexual Function in Peri-Menopausal Women. Journal of women’s health care. 2014;3:1-7.
14. Kim YJ, Kang KS, Yokozawa T. The anti-melanogenic effect of pycnogenol by its anti-oxidative actions. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008;46(7):2466-71.
15. Ni Z, Mu Y, Gulati O. Treatment of melasma with Pycnogenol. Phytother Res. 2002;16(6):567-71.
16. Grether-Beck S, Marini A, Jaenicke T, Krutmann J. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol(R)) Effects on Human Skin: Clinical and Molecular Evidence. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2016;29(1):13-7.
17. Saliou C, Rimbach G, Moini H, McLaughlin L, Hosseini S, Lee J, et al. Solar ultraviolet-induced erythema in human skin and nuclear factor-kappa-B-dependent gene expression in keratinocytes are modulated by a French maritime pine bark extract. Free Radic Biol Med. 2001;30(2):154-60.
18. Marini A, Grether-Beck S, Jaenicke T, Weber M, Burki C, Formann P, et al. Pycnogenol(R) effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in women. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;25(2):86-92.
19. Grimm T, Chovanova Z, Muchova J, Sumegova K, Liptakova A, Durackova Z, et al. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and MMP-9 secretion by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). J Inflamm (Lond). 2006;3:1.
20. Grimm T, Schafer A, Hogger P. Antioxidant activity and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases by metabolites of maritime pine bark extract (pycnogenol). Free Radic Biol Med. 2004;36(6):811-22.
21. Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi BM, Ledda A, Di Renzo A, Stuard S, et al. Diabetic ulcers: microcirculatory improvement and faster healing with pycnogenol. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2006;12(3):318-23.
22. Neogi T, Zhang Y. Epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2013;39(1):1-19.
23. Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi S, Zulli C, Errichi BM, Vinciguerra G, et al. Variations in C-reactive protein, plasma free radicals and fibrinogen values in patients with osteoarthritis treated with Pycnogenol. Redox Rep. 2008;13(6):271-6.
24. Farid R, Mirfeizi Z, Mirheidari M, Rezaieyazdi Z, Mansouri H, Esmaelli H, et al. Pycnogenol supplementation reduces pain and stiffness and improves physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis. Nutrition Research. 2007;27(11):692-7.
25. Cisar P, Jany R, Waczulikova I, Sumegova K, Muchova J, Vojtassak J, et al. Effect of pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Phytother Res. 2008;22(8):1087-92.
26. Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi S, Zulli C, Errichi BM, Vinciguerra G, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis with Pycnogenol. The SVOS (San Valentino Osteo-arthrosis Study). Evaluation of signs, symptoms, physical performance and vascular aspects. Phytother Res. 2008;22(4):518-23.
27. Glyn-Jones S, Palmer AJR, Agricola R, Price AJ, Vincent TL, Weinans H, et al. Osteoarthritis. The Lancet. 2015;386(9991):376-87.
28. Schafer A, Chovanova Z, Muchova J, Sumegova K, Liptakova A, Durackova Z, et al. Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). Biomed Pharmacother. 2006;60(1):5-9.
29. Canali R, Comitato R, Schonlau F, Virgili F. The anti-inflammatory pharmacology of Pycnogenol in humans involves COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA expression in leukocytes. Int Immunopharmacol. 2009;9(10):1145-9.
30. Hildreth KL, Ozemek C, Kohrt WM, Blatchford PJ, Moreau KL. Vascular dysfunction across the stages of the menopausal transition is associated with menopausal symptoms and quality of life. Menopause. 2018;25(9):1011-9.
31. Enseleit F, Sudano I, Periat D, Winnik S, Wolfrum M, Flammer AJ, et al. Effects of Pycnogenol on endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Eur Heart J. 2012;33(13):1589-97.
32. Liu X, Wei J, Tan F, Zhou S, Wurthwein G, Rohdewald P. Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients. Life Sci. 2004;74(7):855-62.
33. Zibadi S, Rohdewald PJ, Park D, Watson RR. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementation. Nutr Res. 2008;28(5):315-20.
34. “Pycnogenol® and Menopause: Feeling Healthy and Beautiful at Any Age”, an article by Dr. Franziska Weichmann, PhD, Manager of Scientific Communications and Product Development at Horphag Research.