Printed in the current issue of Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, the open, controlled, dose-finding study demonstrated that patients with mild type 2 diabetes, subscribing to a regular diet and exercise program, were able to significantly lower their glucose levels when they supplemented with 50-200 mg of Pycnogenol®.
“Seventeen million Americans living day to day with type 2 diabetes, caused by a resistance to insulin, require a careful daily routine including blood sugar monitoring, physical exercise and counting carbohydrates. Many patients look for complementary therapies, such as natural ingredients, to further reduce their risk of long-term complications from this condition,” said Peter Rohdewald, Ph.D. Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Muenster and one of the authors of the study.
“The favorable research results on the glucose-lowering effect of this natural extract encourages further mechanistic and clinical studies with Pycnogenol® to explore its potential in obtaining metabolic control in patients with mild type 2 diabetes.”
High blood sugar damages blood cells and blood vessels. Diagnostic blood chemistry in this study suggests that entailing problems arising from elevated blood sugar are significantly reduced. Pycnogenol® did not affect insulin levels in diabetic patients.
According to Dr. Rohdewald, this natural antioxidant also appears to be helpful in controlling an array of cardiovascular problems prevailing in diabetics. Type 2 diabetes severely affects lipid metabolism, causing an elevation of LDL cholesterol, leading to the 80% of type 2 diabetics suffering from obesity. Damage to blood vessels from the disease manifests in typical circulatory problems such as hypertension, which 50% of type 2 diabetics suffer from. Solid evidence shows that Pycnogenol® effectively reduces high blood pressure, platelet aggregation, LDL (bad)-cholesterol and enhances circulation. And, with heart infarction and stroke being the leading causes of mortality among people with type 2 diabetes, Pycnogenol® is being touted by experts as an integral part of a diabetes health routine.
Earlier studies, with more than 1000 diabetes patients, showed that Pycnogenol® has the ability to seal leaky capillaries in the eye. This capability stops the progression of vision loss in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes-induced eye disease that ultimately leads to blindness.
Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the Maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past thirty-five years and has more than 120 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol® is available in over 140 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide.