Stanford Reviews Pine Bark Efficacy

STANFORD, Calif.—A 12-week study out of Stanford University School of Medicine will assess whether a supplement made from pine bark extract (Flavangenol, Toyo Shinyaku) can help reduce blood pressure in people who are at mild to moderate risk for heart disease; and whether the supplement has other positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Previous studies have indicated pine bark extract may reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but Randall Stafford, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and principal investigator for the study said these studies weren’t large or rigorous enough to provide conclusive evidence of the effects.

“It is important to learn what supplements are effective for particular conditions,” he said. “This will allow consumers to make better choices and provide physicians with the information they need to advise their patients about supplement use.”

The Understanding Pine Bark Extract as an Alternative Treatment (UPBEAT) study is available online at http://ppop.stanford.edu/PineBarkRecruitment.html