Pycnogenol® Boosts Energy

Free radicals develop as side products during oxygen driven energy production in our bodies. Free radicals are like hot sparks released by an engine and they destroy objects which get hit by them. In the cells of our body this damage is responsible for many degenerative diseases like artherosclerosis, arthritis, cancer, and the process of ageing itself.

Physical activity dramatically increases oxygen consumption by 10- to 20-fold over rest. In parallel the number of developing free radicals increases accordingly. This process represents a serious threat to the cells, namely those of muscle and liver. Cells are equipped with vitamins and enzymes to cope with this burden but their exhaustion is inevitable. Free radicals then damage cells and affect their performance. It is known that during exhaustive exercise free radicals may even rupture complete muscle cells as components of these can be detected in the blood (Vina et al., 2000).

Pycnogenol® on its own does not provide energy but acts catalytic: It counteracts the deleterious effects of free radicals and improves blood flow, thereby assisting the body to function continuously with optimum performance.

Pycnogenol® is the most efficient natural scavenger of free radicals currently known. Pycnogenol® attracts free radicals like a magnet and inactivates them before they cause damage. Pycnogenol® is so potent that it can even recycle and protect vitamins C and E (Packer et al., 1999).

In addition, Pycnogenol® boosts cells to produce more antioxidant enzymes themselves which greatly enhances their self-defence against free radicals (Wei et al., 1997). This multiple level defence against free radicals by Pycnogenol® preserves the integrity of muscle and other cells allowing them to continue their work.

Pycnogenol® helps the body to be more energetic by improving the blood flow and thus supporting an optimum supply with nutrients and oxygen. Pycnogenol® releases constricted blood vessels (Fitzpatrick et al., 1998) and keeps the blood slippery (Pütter et al., 1999).

Pycnogenol's role as energiser has culminated in the discovery that it increases endurance of athletes. Dr. Paul Pavlovic at the California State University has conducted a double blind study with recreational athletes who were treated for one month with either placebo or with 200 mg/day French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol® (Pavlovic, 1999). The spectacular result was that athletes treated with Pycnogenol® showed a significant endurance increase by 21 % during controlled exercise on a treadmill.

Pycnogenol® protects us from the havoc of degenerative diseases and protects our cardiovascular system. As an immediate result, Pycnogenol® provides us with increased energy and prolonged performance.

1. Vina J, Gomez-Cabrera MC, Lloret A, Marquez R, Minana JB, Pallardo FV, Sastre J. Free radicals in exhaustive physical exercise: mechanism of production and protection by antioxidants. Life 50 (4-5): 271-277, 2000.
2. Packer L, Rimbach G, Virgili F. Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus maritima) bark, Pycnogenol®. Free Radical Bíol & Med 27: 704-724, 1999.
3. Wei Z, Peng Q, Lau BHS. Pycnogenol® enhances endothelial cell antioxidant defenses. Redox Rep 3: 147-155, 1997.
4. Pütter M, Grotemeyer KHM, Würthwein G, Araghi-Niknam M, Watson RR, Hosseini S, Rohdewald P. Inhibition of smoking-induced platelet aggregation by Aspirin and Pycnogenol. Thromb Res 95: 155-161, 1999.
5. Fitzpatrick DF, Bing B, Rohdewald P. Endothelium dependent vascular effects of Pycnogenol. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 32: 509-515, 1998.
6. Pavlovic P. Improved endurance by use of antioxidants. Eur Bull Drug Res 7 (2): 26-29, 1999.

The human growth hormone, HGH, is not only needed to grow up. Also adults need and produce that hormone. If HGH is not sufficiently secreted, results are obesity, reduced muscle strength and a depressed mood (Cuneo et al., 1992). Consequently, substitution with HGH produced a decrease of 18 % in fat mass and a corresponding increase in muscle mass of 10 %. Also bone density increased and renal blood flow was improved (Cuneo et al., 1992). Clearly, these findings signalize great benefits, especially for those who exercise. The application of HGH to those willing to increase muscle mass and therefore endurance and strength is restricted by the fact that HGH is very expensive and that it has to be injected daily.

Findings from Dr. Lau and coworkers (Buz'Zard et al., 2002) suggest that an indirect way may lead to increase the HGH level. It was observed that secretion of HGH from cells was enormously increased after addition of small quantities of Pycnogenol® to the cells. It was the most effective agent of all the compounds which had been tested. That increase of secretion of HGH could be one of the reasons for the increased endurance observed by Pavlovic (Pavlovic, 1999).

1. Cuneo RC, Salomon F, McGauley GA, Sonksen PH. The growth hormone deficiency syndrome in adults. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 37: 387-397, 1992.
2. Buz'Zard AR. Peng Q, Lau BHS. Kyolic® and Pycnogenol® increase human growth hormone secretion in genetically-engineered keratinocytes. Growth Hormone & IGF Res 00: 1-7, 2002.
3. Pavlovic P. Improved endurance by use of antioxidants. Eur Bull Drug Res 7 (2): 26-29, 1999.