Archives
12/05/2001
Journal of Medicinal Food: Pycnogenol® in the Management of Asthma
TUCSON, AZ –December 5, 2001-- A new clinical study in the Journal of Medicinal Food entitled, “Pycnogenol® in the Management of Asthma,” indicates that taking the nutraceutical Pycnogenol®, an herbal extract derived from the French maritime pine tree, can significantly improve asthma symptoms. In addition to the study conducted by Ronald Watson, Ph.D., College of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of Arizona in Tucson, there is a significant body of clinical evidence comprised over 30 years in some 70 studies that verify Pycnogenol’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
This random, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was comprised of 12 women and 10 men between the ages of 18 and 50 years, who had suffered from asthma for 1 to 16 years. Patients were randomly assigned to either the Pycnogenol® group, receiving 1mg/lb/day (without exceeding 200 mg/day), or to the group receiving placebo for four weeks. Thereafter, subjects were crossed over to the alternate group.
The airway function of the patients was assessed using a well-established method called "forced expiration volume in 1 second" (FEV1), by means of an instrument called a spirometer. For accurate measurement, the subject fills his lungs and then exhales as fast as he can for exactly 1 second, while the spirometer measures the volume of exhaled air. The exhaled volume is expressed relative to the total lung volume, so the FEV1 value represents the percentage of a specific patient's lung volume he can exhale in a second. Understandably, the percentage is lower in asthma patients as their airways are constricted, and breathing is aggravated. Dr. Watson showed that the percentage of the total lung volume which the asthma patients could exhale within one second rose considerably after treatment with Pycnogenol®, while placebo had no effect.
The improvement of airway function was paralleled by a reduction of mediators called leukotrienes in the blood. The leukotrienes cause the inflammatory condition and constriction of bronchi, processes which are largely responsible for the airway obstruction in asthma. Pycnogenol® significantly reduced the leukotriene values, as compared to both baseline as well as placebo medication. Taking placebo tablets had no significant influence on leukotriene levels in the blood.
The severity of asthma symptoms was rated on a 4-point scale, ranging in steps from a mild intermittent form up to a severe persistent form. Before treatment and while receiving placebos the mean symptom score of all patients was considered as being a "severe persistent" form. After treatment with Pycnogenol® the symptom severity score was significantly reduced to the "moderate persistent" form.
Dr. Watson concludes that Pycnogenol® may be a valuable new nutraceutical in the management of asthma. Pycnogenol® was well-tolerated, and only one patient experienced gastrointestinal discomfort. However, this occurred only during the first 3-4 days of the trial. And overall, the patients generally noted an improvement of their breathing ability when they received Pycnogenol®.
This random, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was comprised of 12 women and 10 men between the ages of 18 and 50 years, who had suffered from asthma for 1 to 16 years. Patients were randomly assigned to either the Pycnogenol® group, receiving 1mg/lb/day (without exceeding 200 mg/day), or to the group receiving placebo for four weeks. Thereafter, subjects were crossed over to the alternate group.
The airway function of the patients was assessed using a well-established method called "forced expiration volume in 1 second" (FEV1), by means of an instrument called a spirometer. For accurate measurement, the subject fills his lungs and then exhales as fast as he can for exactly 1 second, while the spirometer measures the volume of exhaled air. The exhaled volume is expressed relative to the total lung volume, so the FEV1 value represents the percentage of a specific patient's lung volume he can exhale in a second. Understandably, the percentage is lower in asthma patients as their airways are constricted, and breathing is aggravated. Dr. Watson showed that the percentage of the total lung volume which the asthma patients could exhale within one second rose considerably after treatment with Pycnogenol®, while placebo had no effect.
The improvement of airway function was paralleled by a reduction of mediators called leukotrienes in the blood. The leukotrienes cause the inflammatory condition and constriction of bronchi, processes which are largely responsible for the airway obstruction in asthma. Pycnogenol® significantly reduced the leukotriene values, as compared to both baseline as well as placebo medication. Taking placebo tablets had no significant influence on leukotriene levels in the blood.
The severity of asthma symptoms was rated on a 4-point scale, ranging in steps from a mild intermittent form up to a severe persistent form. Before treatment and while receiving placebos the mean symptom score of all patients was considered as being a "severe persistent" form. After treatment with Pycnogenol® the symptom severity score was significantly reduced to the "moderate persistent" form.
Dr. Watson concludes that Pycnogenol® may be a valuable new nutraceutical in the management of asthma. Pycnogenol® was well-tolerated, and only one patient experienced gastrointestinal discomfort. However, this occurred only during the first 3-4 days of the trial. And overall, the patients generally noted an improvement of their breathing ability when they received Pycnogenol®.
