title: Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II.
abstract: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-center study was performed with 77 diabetes type II patients to investigate anti-diabetic effects of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pynogenol. Supplementation with 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks, during which a standard anti-diabetic treatment was continued, significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo. HbA1(c) was also lowered; however, the difference as compared to placebo was statistically significant only for the first month. In the Pycnogenol-group endothelin-1 was significantly decreased, while 6-ketoprostaglandin F(1a) in plasma was elevated compared to placebo. Nitric oxide levels in plasma increased during treatment in both groups, but, differences did not reach statistical significance. Pycnogenol was well-tolerated with ECG, electrolytes, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remaining unchanged in both groups. Mild and transient unwanted effects were reported for both groups without significant differences. Supplementation of Pycnogenol to conventional diabetes treatment lowers glucose levels and improves endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Guang An Men Hospital of Chinese Medical Science Research Institute, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Ximing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Junping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Fengsen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Shengming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Würthwein
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohdewald
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts
chemical_list: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019332:Endothelin-1; D005419:Flavonoids; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols