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 .
Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey.
CONTEXT A prior national survey documented the high prevalence and costs of  alternative medicine use in the United States in 1990 . OBJECTIVE To document trends in alternative medicine use in the United States between 1990 and 1997 . DESIGN Nationally representative r and om household telephone surveys using comparable key questions were conducted in 1991 and 1997 measuring utilization in 1990 and 1997 , respectively . PARTICIPANTS A total of 1539 adults in 1991 and 2055 in 1997 . MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES Prevalence , estimated costs , and disclosure of alternative therapies to physicians . RESULTS Use of at least 1 of 16 alternative therapies during the previous year increased from 33.8 % in 1990 to 42.1 % in 1997 ( P < or = .001 ) . The therapies increasing the most included herbal medicine , massage , megavitamins , self-help groups , folk remedies , energy healing , and homeopathy . The probability of users visiting an alternative medicine practitioner increased from 36.3 % to 46.3 % ( P = .002 ) . In both surveys alternative therapies were used most frequently for chronic conditions , including back problems , anxiety , depression , and headaches . There was no significant change in disclosure rates between the 2 survey years ; 39.8 % of alternative therapies were disclosed to physicians in 1990 vs 38.5 % in 1997 . The percentage of users paying entirely out-of-pocket for services provided by alternative medicine practitioners did not change significantly between 1990 ( 64.0 % ) and 1997 ( 58.3 % ) ( P=.36 ) . Extrapolations to the US population suggest a 47.3 % increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners , from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997 , thereby exceeding total visits to all US primary care physicians . An estimated 15 million adults in 1997 took prescription medications concurrently with herbal remedies and /or high-dose vitamins ( 18.4 % of all prescription users ) . Estimated expenditures for alternative medicine professional services increased 45.2 % between 1990 and 1997 and were conservatively estimated at $ 21.2 billion in 1997 , with at least $ 12.2 billion paid out-of-pocket . This exceeds the 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US hospitalizations . Total 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures relating to alternative therapies were conservatively estimated at $ 27.0 billion , which is comparable with the projected 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US physician services . CONCLUSIONS  Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997 , attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies , rather than increased visits per patient
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 .