Pycnogenol Improves ED, Cholesterol Levels

Pycnogenol Improves ED, Cholesterol Levels

BRATISLAVA, Slovak RepublicPycnogenol,an extract from French maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster) that isdistributed in the United States by Hillside, N.J.-based Natural Health Science,seems to have beneficial effects on erectile dysfunction (ED), according toresearchers from Comenius University. Their study, published in the Septemberissue of Nutrition Research (23, 9:1189-98, 2003) (www.elsevier.nl/locate/nutres), involved 21 patients who were treated with 120mg/d of Pycnogenol or placebo for three months in a double blind fashion. Afterthe study period, ED improved from moderate to mild stages with supplementation.Additional results showed Pycnogenol led to a simultaneous increase in plasmaantioxidant activity and a reduction in total cholesterol.