06.03.13
Research published in the January online issue of Phytotherapy Research found the natural supplement Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, to be effective in helping to reduce health risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome. Nearly 90% of study participants who supplemented a healthy diet and regular exercise with Pycnogenol showed significant improvement of all metabolic syndrome characteristics, including obesity and high blood pressure.
The American Heart Association (AHA) defines metabolic syndrome as simultaneous presence of three of five risk factors, including central obesity (40+ inch waistline for men, 35+ inch waistline for women), low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure, high glucose (sugar) and high triglycerides (fat).
The study, conducted at the Italian university of Chieti-Pescara, followed 130 subjects ages 45-55 years old, who presented with all five risk factors of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the AHA. A controlled clinical trial was conducted and participants were given either placebo capsules or 50 mg of Pycnogenol three times daily. The results showed that risk factors of metabolic syndrome were all significantly improved at three months with supplementation of Pycnogenol, with further improvement at six months.
Conducted to identify individuals at higher risk of heart disease, the study focused on the impact of obesity in metabolic syndrome to further emphasize the importance of lifestyle changes related to diet and physical exercise.
Those participants who supplemented with Pycnogenol were free of all five metabolic syndrome risk factors and were well within normal values within six months. More than half of subjects in the placebo group—those who did not take Pycnogenol—still presented with all five metabolic syndrome risk factors even after six months of diet and exercise.
All participants were managed using counseling and dietary education, and a moderate exercise program was initiated. For more information: www.pycnogenol.com
The American Heart Association (AHA) defines metabolic syndrome as simultaneous presence of three of five risk factors, including central obesity (40+ inch waistline for men, 35+ inch waistline for women), low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure, high glucose (sugar) and high triglycerides (fat).
The study, conducted at the Italian university of Chieti-Pescara, followed 130 subjects ages 45-55 years old, who presented with all five risk factors of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the AHA. A controlled clinical trial was conducted and participants were given either placebo capsules or 50 mg of Pycnogenol three times daily. The results showed that risk factors of metabolic syndrome were all significantly improved at three months with supplementation of Pycnogenol, with further improvement at six months.
Conducted to identify individuals at higher risk of heart disease, the study focused on the impact of obesity in metabolic syndrome to further emphasize the importance of lifestyle changes related to diet and physical exercise.
Those participants who supplemented with Pycnogenol were free of all five metabolic syndrome risk factors and were well within normal values within six months. More than half of subjects in the placebo group—those who did not take Pycnogenol—still presented with all five metabolic syndrome risk factors even after six months of diet and exercise.
All participants were managed using counseling and dietary education, and a moderate exercise program was initiated. For more information: www.pycnogenol.com
