Pycnogenol® Helps Childhood Asthma

Pycnogenol® Helps Childhood Asthma

LOMA LINDA, Calif.Arandomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study involving 60 subjects underage 18 with mild-to-moderate asthma found administration of 1 mg/lb body weightof Pycnogenol® (from Natural Health Science) improved pulmonary functions andasthma symptoms (J Asthma,41, 8:825-32, 2004). The subjects taking Pycnogenol (www.pycnogenol.com) forthree months were able to significantly reduce or discontinue use of rescueinhalers; supplementation also reduced plasma levels of leukotrienes,which cause inflammation and bronchial constriction associated with asthma.

Pycnogenols antioxidant activity and powerfulanti-inflammatory properties work to combat the inflammatory processes of thebronchi that cause them to constrict and swell, making breathing difficult,said Benjamin Lau, Ph.D., a professor at Loma Linda University and the leadauthor of the study. Previous studies have shown Pycnogenol to be effectivein decreasing asthma symptoms among adults. These results further demonstratethe efficacy of Pycnogenol and position it as a key player in the management ofmild to moderate childhood asthma.