GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – October 31, 2005 – Largely considered a nutritional disorder, the incidence of type II diabetes continues to increase dramatically worldwide. Many patients are searching for complementary therapies, such as natural ingredients, to further reduce their risk of long-term complications from this condition. According to clinical diabetes studies, type II diabetes patients had lower blood sugar and healthier blood vessels after supplementing with the powerful antioxidant found in Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), extract from the bark of French maritime pine tree
“Almost 18 million Americans live with type II diabetes, caused by a resistance to insulin, and require a careful daily routine including blood sugar monitoring, regular physical exercise and counting carbohydrates,” said Frank Schönlau, PhD, Director of Scientific Communications for Horphag Research. “However, almost 30 percent of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed.”
Printed in the November 2004 issue of Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, the open, controlled, dose-finding study demonstrated that patients with mild type II diabetes, subscribing to a regular diet and exercise program, were able to significantly lower their glucose levels when they supplemented with Pycnogenol®. A dosage as low as 50 mg significantly lowered blood glucose and a dose of 100 mg further lowered blood sugar levels.
Chronic over-eating contrasted with lack of physical activity makes cells resistant to insulin and refuse uptake of glucose from the blood stream. The disease develops from early stages of impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes) and typically coincides with increasing body weight and obesity. The Diabetes Prevention Program has demonstrated that individuals with pre-diabetes can largely be saved from developing type II diabetes by lifestyle changes including diet modification, weight loss and exercise.
“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 II diabetes,” said Dr. Schönlau. “Patients with diabetes are also at risk for other serious health issues including cardiovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy. Pycnogenol® has been shown in clinical studies to provide substantial health benefits in helping to prevent both of these serious health problems.”
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. Schönlau, this natural antioxidant also appears to be helpful in controlling an array of cardiovascular problems prevailing in diabetics. Type II diabetes severely affects lipid metabolism, causing an elevation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, leading to the 80 percent of type II diabetics suffering from obesity. Damage to blood vessels from diabetes manifests in typical circulatory problems such as hypertension, from which 50 percent of type II diabetics suffer. Solid evidence shows that Pycnogenol® effectively reduces high blood pressure, platelet aggregation, LDL cholesterol and enhances circulation.
With heart infarction and stroke being the leading causes of mortality among people with type II diabetes, Pycnogenol® is being touted by experts as an integral part of a diabetes health routine.
Earlier studies, with more than 1,000 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 180 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol® is available in over 400 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide.