Effect of pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The safe and efficacious use of Pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) in other inflammatory diseases prompted this study of its antiinflammatory effects in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether Pycnogenol reduces the symptoms of OA in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomly allocated trial with patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis stages I and II.


METHODS
100 patients were treated for 3 months either by 150 mg Pycnogenol per day at meals or by placebo. Patients had to report any change of use of previously prescribed antiinflammatory medication during the study period. Patients filled the Western Ontario and Mc Masters University (WOMAC) questionnaire for osteoarthritis every 2 weeks and evaluated weekly pain symptoms using a visual analogue scale for pain intensity.


RESULTS
Following treatment with Pycnogenol patients reported an improvement of WOMAC index (p < 0.05), and a significant alleviation of pain by visual analogue scale (p < 0.04), the placebo had no effect. The use of analgesics diminished in the verum group but increased under the placebo. Treatment with Pycnogenol was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that Pycnogenol in patients with mild to moderate OA improves symptoms and is able to spare NSAIDs.
2nd Department of Orthopaedics of the Comenius University School of Medicine, University Hospital Ruzinov, Ruzinovská 6, 82606 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Peter
P
Cisár
Richard
R
Jány
Iweta
I
Waczulíková
Katarína
K
Sumegová
Jana
J
Muchová
Jozef
J
Vojtassák
Zdenka
Z
Duraćková
Miroslav
M
Lisý
Peter
P
Rohdewald
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols