In the past year, several studies on this topic have appeared. The results are positive.

So, let’s review.
Pycnogenol 200 mg plus at least 1.5 liters of water every day during 5 weeks of treatment in 66 volunteers divided into 3 groups

• Significantly fewer cramps by the 4th week compared to the start
• Normal subjects: 5 to 1 events per week
• Venous patients: 6 to 3 events per week
• Athletes: 9 to 2 events per week
• The effects continued through the 5th week
• In a second part of the study, diabetics treated with pycnogenol had a decrease in cramps compared to a group that was not treated

86 people with severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), venous hypertension, ankle swelling, and previous history of venous ulcerations

• Pycnogenol (capsules) 150 mg or 300 mg daily for 8 weeks or Daflon (diosmin and hesperidin) 1,000 mg/day
• Significant improvements with pycnogenol vs. Daflon at 4 and 8 weeks based on a battery of tests of the patients’ microcirculation

21 people with chronic venous insufficiency, ankle swelling, and history of venous ulcerations

• Pycnogenol 150 mg daily for 8 weeks and compared to 18 untreated patients
• At 4 and 8 weeks those treated with pycnogenol had significant improvement in test scores of circulation, symptoms, and a reduction in edema

In view of the recent FDA warning about using quinine to treat leg cramps, these results are all the more interesting.

Horphag Research Ltd., UK is spending a lot of money on research to document the value of their pycnogenol. It’s something we should see from more manufacturers of supplements.

More summaries are here, and here.

12/13/06 11:59 JR