Pine Bark Reduces Osteoarthritis and Lowers Joint Pain

An antioxidant plant extract has been shown to reduce all osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms by 56%, reducing the need for pain medication, and thus improving the gastrointestinal complications resulting from the drugs.

Researchers at the Chieti-Pescara University (Italy) conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of 156 patients with OA of the knee. Patients were administered 100 mg Pycnogenol or placebo, daily for three months. Symptoms were evaluated by WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) index scores and mobility by recording their walking performance on a treadmill. Patients were permitted to continue taking their choice of pain medication provided they recorded every tablet in a diary for later evaluation. Foot volume was measured by the water-displacement method to evaluate foot edema in a randomly selected subgroup of subjects within the two treatment groups. Patients were allowed to use their regular dosage of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The results showed that after three months, scores for pain dropped significantly for the Pycnogenol treatment group and no significant effects were recorded for the placebo group. Scores for stiffness were reduced by 53%. The scores for physical function were reduced by 57% in the Pycnogenol group and improvement under placebo was not significant. The global WOMAC score decreased following Pycnogenol treatment by 56%. Overall wellbeing of patients (emotional function) was significantly enhanced with the Pycnogenol group compared to the placebo group (64% vs. 15%). Results of exercise tests on the treadmill demonstrated an increased performance after three months of Pycnogenol treatment. After the three months, edema decreased in 79% of the Pycnogenol patients and only 1% in placebo-treated patients. NSAID usage dropped by 58% during treatment with Pycnogenol, but only by 1% in treatment with the placebo. The study was published in the April 2008 edition of the journal Phytotherapy Research.

"Pycnogenol seemed a natural fit for this study,” said lead author Gianni Belcaro, M.D. "There are a few main components contributing to the clinical picture of treatment management in osteoarthritis: inflammation causing a progression in the disease, alteration of fatigue resistance and muscular performance - reversing and blocking the vascular problems associated to altered mobility. Theoretically, a treatment with a compound specifically active on all those aspects could be highly effective, which is why we chose Pycnogenol.”

Pycnogenol is a natural antioxidant plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids, and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 35 years and has more than 220 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient.


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