03.03.14
An observational study published in the December 2013 issue of the International Journal of Women’s Health found that the natural supplement Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, significantly minimizes pain and inflammation associated with endometriosis and may help eliminate dysmenorrhea – when paired with oral contraceptives. More than five million women in the United States suffer from endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition often associated with severe menstrual pain and infertility.
In the study, conducted in collaboration by the Brazilian Instituto da Mulher and Itaigara Memorial Day Hospital, researchers treated and monitored 45 patients of reproductive age (22 – 37 years old) who were diagnosed with varying degrees of endometriosis. Patients were randomly selected to one of four treatment groups and evaluated prior to beginning their regimen and after three months of treatment. Two different types of oral contraceptives were evaluated on their own and in combination with Pycnogenol. Pain was evaluated with a visual analog pain scale graded from 0-10.
Patients in Group 1 were treated with only an oral contraceptive containing 0.75 mg gestodene and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol; Group 2 received the same oral contraceptive containing .75 mg gestodene and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol in addition to 100 mg Pycnogenol. Patients in Group 3 received only a contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol (approximately similar to Yazin the U.S.); participants in Group 4 received the same oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol in addition to 100 mg Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol was administered at 50 mg every 12 hours. In all cases, oral contraceptives were used in a continuous regimen.
Over the course of three months, researchers found:
“Pycnogenol is a natural nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor, meaning that it reduces inflammation at the on-set, and as a result, may significantly reduce pain and help those who suffer from endometriosis without complication or side effects,” said Dr. Peter Rohdewald, head of research and development at Horphag Research. “This research shows that Pycnogenol is an effective natural alternative to improve the efficacy of oral contraceptives to relieve endometriosis-related pain.”
According to the company, this study confirms previous findings from the catalog of research on women’s health and Pycnogenol, including a 2007 study of 58 women that found Pycnogenol alone to significantly reduce the symptoms of endometriosis by 33% without disruption to the menstrual cycle, allowing women to become pregnant.
For more information: www.pycnogenol.com
In the study, conducted in collaboration by the Brazilian Instituto da Mulher and Itaigara Memorial Day Hospital, researchers treated and monitored 45 patients of reproductive age (22 – 37 years old) who were diagnosed with varying degrees of endometriosis. Patients were randomly selected to one of four treatment groups and evaluated prior to beginning their regimen and after three months of treatment. Two different types of oral contraceptives were evaluated on their own and in combination with Pycnogenol. Pain was evaluated with a visual analog pain scale graded from 0-10.
Patients in Group 1 were treated with only an oral contraceptive containing 0.75 mg gestodene and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol; Group 2 received the same oral contraceptive containing .75 mg gestodene and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol in addition to 100 mg Pycnogenol. Patients in Group 3 received only a contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol (approximately similar to Yazin the U.S.); participants in Group 4 received the same oral contraceptive containing 3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol in addition to 100 mg Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol was administered at 50 mg every 12 hours. In all cases, oral contraceptives were used in a continuous regimen.
Over the course of three months, researchers found:
- The use of oral contraceptives alone resulted in a decrease of menstrual-related pain
- Pycnogenolsignificantly reinforced pain reduction when combined with oral contraceptives in patients suffering from endometriosis Pycnogenolincreased significantly the efficacy of oral contraceptives for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain
- Most (56%) participants taking Pycnogenol and an oral contraceptive reported a complete resolution of pain; none of the participants taking an oral contraceptive alone reported full pain resolution
“Pycnogenol is a natural nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor, meaning that it reduces inflammation at the on-set, and as a result, may significantly reduce pain and help those who suffer from endometriosis without complication or side effects,” said Dr. Peter Rohdewald, head of research and development at Horphag Research. “This research shows that Pycnogenol is an effective natural alternative to improve the efficacy of oral contraceptives to relieve endometriosis-related pain.”
According to the company, this study confirms previous findings from the catalog of research on women’s health and Pycnogenol, including a 2007 study of 58 women that found Pycnogenol alone to significantly reduce the symptoms of endometriosis by 33% without disruption to the menstrual cycle, allowing women to become pregnant.
For more information: www.pycnogenol.com