Pine bark supplement may aid arthritis sufferers

Recent study results suggest that Pycnogenol, an antioxidant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree may be beneficial to those who suffer from osteoarthritis.

Researchers enlisted 55 people with osteoarthritis for their study. All participants had significantly elevated levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). Participants received either two daily doses of 50 mg Pycnogenol or placebo for three months. Results showed that treatment with Pycnogenol led to a 71% drop in CRP levels, from an average 3.9 mg/L at the start of the study to 1.1 mg/L after just three months of treatment. Furthermore, treatment with the pine bark extract also reduced blood levels of other factors suggestive of acute inflammation, such as fibrinogen, which decreased by 37.1%, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which fell by 29.9%.

"The decrease of systemic inflammatory markers, particularly CRP, suggests Pycnogenol properties may be potent enough to arrest the spread of inflammation from osteoarthritic joints to the whole organisms" said study author Dr. Peter Rohdewald, in a news release. "When inflammatory processes are allowed to reach the whole body the degenerative processes may burden overall health including increased cardiovascular risks."

Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Errichi S, et al.  Variations in C-reactive protein, plasma free radicals and fibrinogen values in patients with osteoarthritis treated with Pycnogenol. Redox Report. 2008;13:271-276. doi: 10.1179/135100008X309019