Pine Bark Extract Improves Metabolic Disease Risk Factors

Study results have shown that taking a daily dose of the pine bark extract pycnogenol may help to treat or prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition that is linked to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers administered 150 mg/day of the extract to 64 subjects (range 45-55 years) presenting with all 5 risk factors of metabolic syndrome for 6-months. Another group of 66 matched participants served as controls. Results showed that supplementation with the pine bark extract was associated with a reduction in waist circumference, triglyceride levels, fasting blood glucose, and blood pressure, and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels.  The authors concluded that the results suggest that the extract may help to improve health risk factors in people with metabolic syndrome.