Investigation of Pycnogenol® in combination with coenzymeQ10 in heart failure patients (NYHA II/III).
OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigated benefits of a Pycnogenol - coenzyme Q10 combination (PycnoQ10) taken as an adjunct to medical treatment in stable heart failure patients. The aim of this single-blinded, 12-week observational study was to provide functional parameters such as exercise capacity, ejection fraction and distal edema.


METHODS
The essential element for inclusion was a stable level of heart failure within the past three months and stable NYHA class II or III (6 months). The heart failure management was in accordance with AHA guidelines for "best treatment." The treatment and control groups were comparable at baseline. The mean age of the PycnoQ10-treated patients was 61.3+/-7.1 years and 62.1+/-3.7 in the control group. All patients were taking medication and most patients (>75%) used three or more drugs for heart failure treatment. There were two dropouts in the PycnoQ10 treatment group and 6 in the control group (5 NYHA III patients).


RESULTS
Nine PycnoQ10 treated patients (out of 32) and 3 (out of 21) taking placebo improved NYHA class. Systolic and diastolic pressure as well as heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly lowered with PycnoQ10 as compared to the control group (P<0.05). No significant changes were observed in controls. Heart ejection fraction increased by 22.4% in the treatment group (P<0.05) versus 4.0% in controls. Walking distance on treadmill increased 3.3-fold in PycnoQ10 treated patients (P<0.05) but marginally improved in the control group. Distal edema decreased significantly in PycnoQ10 treated patients and only slightly in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The association of Pycnogenol and CoQ10 may offer an important therapeutic option with a very good tolerability that improves heart failure management without side effects.
Belcaro
G
G
Irvine3 Labs, Department Biomedical Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, Pescara, Italy. cardres@abol.it
Cesarone
M R
MR
Dugall
M
M
Hosoi
M
M
Ippolito
E
E
Bavera
P
P
Grossi
M G
MG
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004487:Edema; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D005419:Flavonoids; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024070:pycnogenols; C024989:coenzyme Q10