PYCNOGENOL IMPROVES ED AND LIPID PROFILE IN ED PATIENTS

[madman]

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is characterised as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection to complete sexual intercourse. ED may be considered as an early complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of registered food supplement, natural polyphenolic extract from the French maritime pine bark, Pycnogenol (PYC) on erectile function and lipid profile in ED patients.

METHODS: 53 patients with ED were divided into two groups (32 with DM, 21 non-DM) in randomised, blinded and placebo-controlled study. During 3-month intervention with PYC or placebo and one month after the end of the intervention patients were investigated for ED with validated questionnaire International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5); lipid profi e, glycaemia was analysed in each group.

RESULTS: In a randomised, blinded and placebo-controlled study, we found that natural polyphenolic extract, Pycnogenol improved erectile function in DM group by 45 % compared to the NDM group, where the improvement was also significant, but only by 22 %. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and glucose level was lowered by PYC in patients with DM. Glucose level was not affected by PYC in non-DM. Placebo showed no effect on monitored parameters in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Administration of Pycnogenol leads in improvement of erectile function in patients with ED and diabetes (DM group) by 45 %, in NDM group by 22 %, in lowering of total-, LDL-cholesterol by 20 % and 21 % and glycaemia by 22 % in DM (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 19).













Conclusion

Patients suffering from ED and DM type 2 had worse erectile function compared to NDM ED patients. In a randomised, blinded and placebo-controlled study, we found that registered food supplement, natural polyphenolic extract, Pycnogenol (PYC) improved erectile function in DM group by 45 % compared to the NDM group, where the improvement was also significant, but only by 22 %. Administration of PYC in DM patients with ED led to statistically significant reduced glycaemia by 22 % and to lowering of total-, LDL-cholesterol by 20 % and 21 %. PYC seems to have a beneficial effect on treatment of ED especially in patients with DM. This needs to be verified by larger placebo-controlled studies and longer treatment endpoints.

 

[madman]

Tab. 1. Clinical characteristics and andrology data of patients at the baseline (investigation 0).

 

[madman]

Table 2. IIEF-5 score, lipid profi le and glucose levels at the baseline (investigation 0) and after the intervention and at the wash-out period

 

[madman]

Fig. 1. IIEF-5 score (median) (%) in DM and NDM groups during intervention of PYC. DM – patients with diabetes, NDM – patients without diabetes, IIEF-5 – International Index of Erectile Function,PYC –pycnogenol.

 

[madman]

Fig. 2. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in DM and NDM groups using PYC (%). TCH – total cholesterol, LDL-CH – low density lipoprotein cholesterol, DM – patients with diabetes, NDM – patients without diabetes, PYC – Pycnogenol.

 

[bygeorge]

I read the study but couldn't the dosage and frequency for the pycnogenol. Maybe I missed it? Possibly someone with better understanding on how to read these studies could elucidate?

Thanks

 

[madman]

I read the study but couldn't the dosage and frequency for the pycnogenol. Maybe I missed it? Possibly someone with better understanding on how to read these studies could elucidate?

Thanks

Easy to miss when glancing over.


Subjects and methods

Dividing patients into PYC or placebo (PL) groups: PYC group included 32 patients who received 120 mg PYC daily. PL group included 21 patients received placebo with lactose (58 mg) and cellulose (65 mg) in 1 tablet. PYC and PL tablets were packaged in the same, opaque package, indicating the name of the clinical study. Patients were on standard diet throughout the 4-month follow-up and did not take any supplementary vitamins with antioxidant properties, vitamin C and E, and other drugs to treat ED.

 

[bygeorge]

Thank you!

 

[Tommy Wall]

Its a pitty that it is expensive

 

[madman]

Its a pitty that it is expensive

300 gelatin capsules $26.96

1 capsule = 500 mg Pine Bark Extract
Standardized to contain >95%
Proanthocyanidin 475 mg

You can drastically cut the cost by purchasing the powder.....only drawback is measuring an accurate dose and not having the convenience of just swallowing a standardized capsule.....mind you the capsule contains 500 mg and when looking over various studies the effective dose on average is 100-200 mg/day (split twice daily).....some may take upwards of 400 mg/day (200 mg twice daily).

100-200 mg/day would be all that is needed.



Pine Bark Extract300 Gelatin Capsules

 

[madman]

PROPRIETARY BOTANICAL INGREDIENT PYCNOGENOL
SCIENTIFIC and CLINICAL
MONOGRAPH
FOR
PYCNOGENOL®

 

[Vince Carter]

I picked up a 300ct pack of the capsules as marked above and will give it a whirl, thanks: @madman

 

[madman]

I picked up a 300ct pack of the capsules as marked above and will give it a whirl, thanks: @madman

I am going to give it a go.....only thing is I get burned on shipping and CAD--->USD costs!

Still cheaper though than for what most places charge for it.

Will be looking forward to your feedback.

 

[DaveK22]

Take this with a grain of salt...I started using 400mg 2x a day (800 mg total daily) for the past month & have experienced zero noticeable effects. Maybe my product is junk...no idea.

This is what I'm using...
Robot Check

 

[madman]

Take this with a grain of salt...I started using 400mg 2x a day (800 mg total daily) for the past month & have experienced zero noticeable effects. Maybe my product is junk...no idea.

This is what I'm using...
Robot Check

I am mainly interested in cardiovascular health and it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as I never had any ED issues pre/post trt.

PRIMARY USE
Cardiovascular Health: Although there are many uses for Pycnogenol, the most extensively studied use is for cardiovascular health. Regarding improvement of endothelial function and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), 7 controlled clinical trials have been published that demonstrate symptomatic improvement of blood circulation, blood pressure (BP) normalization, platelet function normalization, and venous insufficiency. In addition, 5 clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Pycnogenol for hypertension and its complications. One study looked at the benefits of Pycnogenol on coronary artery disease and showed that the preparation improved endothelial function. All of these studies have shown a benefit, but studies with larger numbers of participants are needed to further substantiate these findings.

 

[Sakuraba39]

It seems that there is a difference between pycnogenol (french maritime pine bark extract) and pine bark extract. It could explain why one product is quite a bit more expensive than the other.

 

[Tommy Wall]

I ordered pine bark extract

Pine bark Extract Capsules - 100mg - 95% proanthocyanidins - Vegan - 120 Capsules

I hope its not crap.

 

[Vince Carter]

That was my problem with ordering the bulk supplements variety as from past experience "french maritime" was a very specific flavor and not all pine bark is the same in that way.
If buying the bulk supplements powder it tastes awful in water, grab some capsules that you can swallow, otherwise choking down a 1/4 tsp can be rather barf. Tastes like dirt.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Efficacy of L-arginine and Pycnogenol ® in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprosperoUnique, Identifier: CRD42023411781.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[sammmy]

Little publicized study shows that Pycnogenol decreases the urinary concentrations of Adrenaline and Dopamine in children with ADHD, acting as an anti-psychotic:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5828499_Urinary_catecholamines_in_children_with_attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_ADHD_Modulation_by_a_polyphenolic_extract_from_pine_bark_Pycnogenol_R

While Pycnogenol is well known for improving the health of blood vessels and thus may be beneficial for erection, I highly doubt decreasing Adrenaline and Dopamine will be beneficial in improving orgasmic function. Anti-psychotic drugs are well known for causing delayed ejaculation or anorgasmia.