Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol is a branded extract of French maritime pine bark. Its main compounds include procyanidins, a family of plant polyphenols.
Also listed as Pine Bark Extract, Pine Bark Procyanidins, Procyanidins
A small blood-pressure signal
A meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials involving 922 adults found average reductions of about 3.2 mmHg in systolic pressure, the upper reading, and 1.9 mmHg in diastolic pressure, the lower reading. These are encouraging changes, but the authors called for better trials. Separately, Cochrane judged the cardiovascular evidence very uncertain because of limitations in the underlying studies. 1 2
Can it help skin stay hydrated?
In a randomized crossover trial, 76 outdoor workers in Beijing received 50 mg twice daily during a study lasting 12 weeks. Compared with placebo, Pycnogenol helped preserve hydration during the dry autumn season and improved measured elasticity. This is a specific finding in workers exposed to seasonal changes and urban air pollution, rather than evidence that every skin concern will improve. 3
Joint pain: promising, with important limits
Small osteoarthritis studies have reported improvements in pain. The German Society for Rheumatology considers the evidence weak and discusses Pycnogenol only as a possible addition to established treatment when a patient asks about it. For inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the available work does not establish a treatment benefit; uncontrolled observations and nonspecific inflammation markers cannot settle that question. 4
What about blood sugar and memory?
Cochrane examined 27 trials involving 1,641 people across ten chronic conditions. Its conclusions for diabetes, memory after traumatic brain injury and other conditions remained very uncertain. Most studies were small, treatment lasted four weeks to six months, and reporting often left important questions unanswered. These findings leave room for further research without establishing a reliable benefit today. 2
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Cardiovascular1 effect
Hair & Skin2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
Longevity2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
Women's Hormones1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Weight Management1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Bone & Joint1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Fitness1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Immune Support1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Stress & Mood2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Organ Function1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Gut Health1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Other effects1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
All studies
9 publications are linked to Pycnogenol, newest first.
Sources
- Effect of pycnogenol supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials Phytotherapy Research, 2020 · Study record
- Oral Pycnogenol Intake Benefits the Skin in Urban Chinese Outdoor Workers Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2021 · Study record
- Treatment with Pycnogenol Deutsche Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie