Pycnogenol (Pine Bark Extract)
A standardised French maritime pine bark extract with unusually good trial coverage for endothelial function, venous insufficiency and skin microcirculation — expensive, but genuinely studied.
Moderate for chronic venous insufficiency and leg oedema, and for endothelial function / nitric-oxide-mediated vasodilation. Moderate for skin elasticity, hydration and UV-related pigmentation. Weak-to-moderate and modest in size for blood pressure. Weak for ADHD, asthma and cognition — small trials with concentrated authorship. Effects: 4–12 weeks.
Pycnogenol is a branded, standardised extract of French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) bark, rich in oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), catechins and phenolic acids. Because it's a single patented preparation, almost all of the 100+ human trials used the same material — rare in botanicals, and it makes the literature unusually coherent. The consistent findings are improved endothelial function and nitric-oxide-mediated vasodilation, reduced oedema in chronic venous insufficiency, and improved skin elasticity and microcirculation. Blood-pressure effects are real but modest. Claims around ADHD, asthma and cognition rest on small trials, several from the same research groups, and deserve more scepticism.
- Form
- Pycnogenol is a trademark — the branded extract is the one that was trialled. Generic 'pine bark extract' standardised to 65–75% procyanidins is chemically similar but not the same material, and cheaper products are often under-standardised.
- Dose
- 100–200 mg/day for most indications, split twice daily. Trials range 50–360 mg/day; venous and endothelial work commonly uses 150 mg/day.
- Timing
- With food, split AM and PM. Fat improves absorption of the larger procyanidins.
- Schedule
- Daily. Endothelial and skin endpoints take 4–12 weeks. Reassess at 3 months.
- Side effects
- Generally well tolerated. Mild GI upset, dizziness, headache and mouth ulcers at higher doses. Taking it with food resolves most of it.
- Interactions
- Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, DOACs, aspirin, clopidogrel) — mild antiplatelet effect, additive bleeding risk. Antihypertensives — additive blood-pressure lowering. Immunosuppressants — theoretical opposition via immune stimulation. Diabetes medication — may modestly lower glucose.
- Contraindications
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (insufficient data). Bleeding disorders, or within 2 weeks of surgery. Autoimmune disease on immunosuppressants — discuss first, given the immune-stimulating signal.
- Lab markers
- Blood pressure (home cuff) and, if you're tracking vascular endpoints, hs-CRP. Fasting glucose and HbA1c if diabetic. INR if on warfarin.
- Food sources
- None — the OPC profile is specific to the bark extract. Related procyanidins occur in grape seed, cocoa and berries at much lower concentrations.
Pairs with
L-arginine or citrulline (the classic endothelial/erectile-function combination trialled with Pycnogenol). Grape seed extract and Centella asiatica for venous and microcirculatory work. Vitamin C, which regenerates the polyphenols.
within Polyphenols & antioxidants