Diabetic ulcers: microcirculatory improvement and faster healing with pycnogenol.
Diabetic microangiopathy leads to lower limb ulcers that are very slow to heal. Pycnogenol was evaluated on diabetic ulcers in a controlled trial. Ulcer medications were used in 4 groups (30 patients): (1) systemic Pycnogenol and local application; (2) local Pycnogenol only; (3) oral Pycnogenol; and (4) medications only (control group). Ulcerated areas and symptom scores were more reduced with the combined oral and local treatment (P < .05). Oral and local treatment were less effective, but still improved compared with the controls. Combined treatment produced 89% complete healing at 6 weeks versus 84% with local treatment and 85% with oral treatment; healing in controls was 61%. The combined treatment group and oral only group had better microcirculation after the combined treatment. Combined local and systemic application of Pycnogenol may offer a new treatment of diabetic ulcers. Local treatment also speeds ulcer healing.
Belcaro
G
G
Irvine2 Vasc Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chieti-pescara University and San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
Cesarone
M R
MR
Errichi
B M
BM
Ledda
A
A
Di Renzo
A
A
Stuard
S
S
Dugall
M
M
Pellegrini
L
L
Gizzi
G
G
Rohdewald
P
P
Ippolito
E
E
Ricci
A
A
Cacchio
M
M
Cipollone
G
G
Ruffini
I
I
Fano
F
F
Hosoi
M
M
D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000150:complications; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols