Present systematic review and meta- analysis suggested Pycnogenol consumption can decrease the level of CRP and have anti-inflammatory effect .
Pycnogenol is a st and ardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine .
The aim of the present systematic review and meta- analysis was to clarify the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on C-reactive protein ( CRP ) concentration .
Kidney Flow and Function in Hypertension: Protective Effects of Pycnogenol in Hypertensive Participants—A Controlled Study
This study evaluated the effects of Pycnogenol as an adjunct to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor ramipril treatment of hypertensive patients presenting with early signs of renal function problems . One group of 26 patients was medicated with 10 mg ramipril per day only ; a second group of 29 patients  took Pycnogenol in addition to the ACE inhibitor over a period of 6 months . At trial end , a lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in both groups , with a significant further reduction of diastolic pressure in the group given Pycnogenol in addition to ramipril . The major aim of this study was the investigation of kidney-protective effects of Pycnogenol . Urinary albumin decreased from 87 ± 23 to 64 ± 16 mg/d with ramipril only . Additional Pycnogenol  lowered albumin significantly better from 91 ± 25 to 39 ± 13 mg/day ( P < .05 ) . In both groups , serum creatinine was lowered ; however , only in the combination treatment group did the effect reached statistical significance . In both groups , CRP levels decreased from 2.1 to 1.8 with ramipril and from 2.2 to 1.1 with the ramipril — Pycnogenol combination ; the latter reached statistical significance . Kidney cortical flow velocity was investigated by Doppler color duplex ultrasonography . Both systolic and diastolic flow velocities increased significantly after 6 months medication with ramipril . The addition of Pycnogenol to the regimen statistically significantly further enhanced kidney cortical flow velocities , by 8 % for diastolic flow and 12 % for systolic flow , relative to values found for the group taking ramipril only . The protective effects of Pycnogenol for initial kidney damage found in this study warrant further research with a larger number of patients and over a longer period of time
Present systematic review and meta- analysis suggested Pycnogenol consumption can decrease the level of CRP and have anti-inflammatory effect .
Pycnogenol is a st and ardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine .
The aim of the present systematic review and meta- analysis was to clarify the effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on C-reactive protein ( CRP ) concentration .