December 11, 2007 – Supplements of Pycnogenol – or maritime pine bark extract – are said to reduce pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. In addition, they would reduce the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
This is what reveals a study conducted in Iran, for three months, on 37 patients who suffered from osteoarthritis of the knee. The volunteers received either Pycnogenol tablets, 50 mg three times a day or a placebo2.
After 60 days of treatment, researchers noted reduced pain and improved physical function3 of the knee in the Pycnogenol group. After 90 days, participants experienced 43% less pain and 35% less stiffness, compared to the placebo group. They also improved the physical function of their knee by 52%.
At the start of the study, all subjects were using medicines for osteoarthritis, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or specific Cox-2 inhibitors, almost daily. Patients who received Pycnogenol treatment reduced their drug intake (dosage and frequency). The placebo group, for its part, increased its consumption of drugs.
Researchers say that the beneficial effects of Pycnogenol are attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Although this study is small in scope and is based solely on subjective parameters for the evaluation of the joints, the results are very significant,” says pharmacist Jean-Yves Dionne, an expert in natural health products.
According to Jean-Yves Dionne, Pycnogenol could serve as an auxiliary treatment for anti-inflammatory drugs. Without replacing them, this natural health product could make it possible to reduce the doses of these drugs which, in the long term, are irritating to the body. In addition, the 150 mg doses suggested in the study remain affordable, Pycnogenol being a very expensive product, underlines the pharmacist.
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Reza F, Mirfeizi Z et al. Pycnogenol supplementation reduces pain and stiffness and improves physical function in adults with knee osteoarthritis, Nutr Res 27 (2007) 692-697.
2. This research was funded by Horphag Research Inc. which produces Pycnogenol supplements.
3. Clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis were assessed monthly using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index, which is a self-report of joint pain, stiffness, and physical function.
