Pycnogenol May Lower BloodPressure

Pycnogenol May Lower BloodPressure

BEIJINGSupplementation withPycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract (from Hillside, N.J.-basedNatural Health Science Inc.) may help reduce high blood pressure (BP), accordingto Chinese researchers (Life Sci, 74, 7:855-62, 2004) (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00243205). Fifty-eight hypertensivesubjects were supplemented with 100 mg/d of Pycnogenol over a period of 12weeks, during which time they were able to significantly reduce their BPprescription medications, according to the study.

These particularly significant results add even morestrength to the research concluding that control of blood pressure is aided withsupplementation with the [French maritime pine bark] extract, said PeterRohdewald, Ph.D., one of the studys authors. Taking into account itsability to inhibit platelet aggregation and its diverse anti-oxidative andanti-inflammatory actions, we suggest that French maritime pine tree barkextract offers a broad spectrum of protection for the patient with high bloodpressure.