Can Pycnogenol Counteract Kidney Damage and Improve Hypertension?

What is PYCNOGENOL?

A natural plant extract from the bark of the maritime pine tree which grows exclusively along the coast of southwest France in Les Landes de Gascogne. The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.
 

Could it be helpful for kidney protection? 

Maybe... A study was recently published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics reveals some data that is starting to build the case for pycnogenol as a renoprotective agent.

The randomized, controlled study conducted by the G D’Annunzio University in Italy investigated 55 hypertensive patients who showed early signs of impaired kidney function, as judged by elevated amounts of proteins found in their urine. There were two groups, one group was given Ramipril, the other group was given Ramipril plus Pycnogenol. The group taking Pycnogenol as an adjunct to Ramipril had a decrease in proteinuria of nearly double compared with anti-hypertensive medication taken alone.

The study also found a statistically significant decrease in patients’ blood pressure when taking Pycnogenol in conjunction with Ramipril. When treated exclusively with Ramipril, systolic blood pressure values dropped by more than 30 percent and diastolic blood pressure values dropped approximately 8 percent. The addition of Pycnogenol decreased both systolic and diastolic pressures by an additional 3 percent to 6 percent. Pycnogenol also was found to lower the patients’ elevated levels of inflammatory marker CRP, a blood protein associated with the risk for acute cardiovascular events such as heart attack, reducing values to a healthy level.

This is obviously a very small study from Italy that needs to be replicated on a much bigger scale. The optimal dose, drug interactions and side effect profile of this supplement is also unclear. Nevertheless, it is worthy of consideration.