Pycnogenol for Menstrual Discomfort

8/12/2019 Pycnogenol for Menstrual Discomfort

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Menstrual Discomfort

L O O K , F E E L A N D L I V E B E T T E R


2/5I Horphag Research-Geneva, SwitzerlandI Horphag Research Asia-Shanghai, ChinaI Natural Health Science-Hoboken NJ, USAI www.pycnogenol.comI HORPHAGI

Pycnogenol inhibits prostaglandins and is

anti-inflammatorye stan ar reg men or ysmenorr oea are over

e counter non-ster o a ant n ammatory rugsNSAID) such as ibuprofen. These medications reduce

enstrua pa n e c ent y an qu te rap y. However,

ese pa n- ers ave s e e ects caus ng gastr c

problems and other more serious complications, par-

cu ar y w en t ey are ta en n g quant t es as t s

yp ca n ysmenorr oea. A c n ca stu y as s own

hat consumption of Pycnogenolnon-selectively in-

ts COXenzymes, w c are nvo ve n synt es s o

pro- n ammatory prostagan ns ur ng t e menstru-

l period. Already after a single dose of Pycnogenolot COX-1 an COX-2 enzymes are s gn cant y n-

te n umans y 22.5% an 14.7%, respect ve y

[Schfer et al., 2006].

urt ermore, Pycnogeno was s own to ower t e

nflammatory master switch (NF-kB) in humans af-

er ve ays o cont nuous consumpt on y 15.8%

Grmm et a ., 2006 . NF- B tr ggers t e generat on o

ssentially all pro-inflammatory mediators. This pro-

es t e as s or t e rat ona e to use Pycnogenoo natura y mo erate n ammatory processes an

pa n sensat on nvo ve n menstruat on. A t ona y,

Pycnogeno supports t e woun ea ng process

and stabilises capillaries which will help to speed-up

t e recovery o t e en ometr um.

Japanese gynaecologists discovered

Pycnogenol soothes menstrual painTwo Japanese gynaeco og sts teste Pycnogeno or

lowering menstrual pain in an open, uncontrolled

exp oratory tr a . T rty n ne women w t ysmen-orr oea or en ometr os s were treate w t 30 mg

ost women of child-bearing age experience a variety of symptoms related to the menstrual cycle that

ay e imite to mi er iscom ort suc as rom t e pre-menstrua syn rome or exten to serious men-

trual pain which seriously affects quality of life. The complete replacement of tissue lining the uterine

avity, the endometrium, during the menstrual period represents a wound healing process and involves

n ammatory processes.

he inflammation is initiated by prostaglandins developing during menstruation which causes uterine

ontractions an pain. Some women experience menstrua pain eve s w ic severe y inter ere wit ai y

unctions and affects quality of life. In medical terminology this is known as dysmenorrhoea.

e preva ence o ysmenorr oea is ig est in a o escent women, wit estimates ranging rom 20% to

90% epen ing on t e iagnosis stan ar s app ie Frenc , 2005 . For women ysmenorr oea is t e most

ommon reason for absence from work.

NF-kB-15.8%

Pycnogenolis

anti-inflammatory

Pycnogenol for Menstrual Discomfort



ycnogeno a y start ng seven ays e ore men-

truation. Both abdominal pain and cramping were

oun to e mprove n t e ma or ty o women

Ko ama & Suzu , 1999 . T ese n t a n ngs ave

prompted further research of benefits of Pycnogenol

or menstrua scom ort.

Pycnogenol relieves menstrual pain

c n ca tr a n Japan nvest gate 47 women w o

were agnose av ng symptoms o ysmenorr oea.

heir pain sensation and use of pain medication was

ecor e t roug out t e tr a , w c covere t reeomp ete menstrua cyc es. T e rst, pre-treatment

enstrual cycle served for establishing baseline pain

eve an ana gesc use. Drect y a ter comp et on o

e pre-treatment cyc e women too Pycnogeno

very day until completion of two further menstrual

yc es.

he results showed that women had significantly

ess a om na pa n w en t ey a starte ta ng

ycnogeno t ree wee s e ore t e r per o . T e pa nelief was even more pronounced during the following

per o , w t t e pa n score re uce y 36% compare

o pre-treatment. T e num er o ays ur ng w c

women experienced menstrual pain was likewise low-

re rom average pre-treatment 3.9 ays to 3.6 an

3.3 ays n t e rst an secon per o , respect ve y.

omen required less pain medication during their

enstrua per o w en t ey too Pycnogeno

Multi-centre field study with Pycnogenol

for menstrual painFour osp ta s n Japan nvest gate a tota num er o

116 women su er ng rom menstrua pa n n a mu t -

entre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled

as on Suzu et a ., 2007 . T e rst two pre-treat-

ment menstrua cyc es were ut se or esta s ng

base-line values for pain sensation and analgesic

me cat on use. Dur ng t e o ow ng 2 menstrua

yc es women were ran om y ass gne to groups

receiving daily regimens of Pycnogenolor placebo.

T erea ter, reg men was scont nue to nvest gatet e recurrence o symptoms.

Treatment w t Pycnogeno owere pa n ur ng

menstruation, which was reflected by a significantre uct on o pa n me cat on use . T e num er o

pa n u ays ue to ysmenorr oea was ecrease

from average 2.1 days prior to treatment to 1.3, 1.3

n 1.2 ays urng t e consecut ve menstrua cyc es,

respect ve y. D scont nuat on oes not cause an m-

mediate relapse as pain levels and pain medication

use not ncrease. As n prev ous stu es on ys-

menorr oea t e pa n re e eve ops gra ua y ur ng

supplementation with Pycnogenol


Pycnogenol Placebo Di scont inue

baseline(cycle 1+2)

cycle 3 cycle 4 cycle 5

NSAIDstablets

4

5

3

2

Women required less pain medication duringmenstruation

-25%

-46%-50%

Pycnogenoldaily

pre-treatment

menstrual cycle

1. cycle 2. cycle

high pain

low pain

Pycnogenolgradually decreases menstrual pain

-24%

-36%



Endometriosis

ndometriosis is a condition involving the tissue that

overs t e uter ne cav ty en ometr um , w c s

e ur ng menstruat on. In en ometr os s t s t s-

ue has movedoutside the uterus and grown else-

w ere n t e o y. T e most common p aces w t -

sp ace en ometr um are t e ovar es, t e ov ucts,

he uterine wall, lining of the pelvis andeven the blad-

er an ntest nes. How t e en ometr a ce s reac

t er organs rema nsun nown. T e sp ace t ssue

behaves like uterine endometrium in responding to

emont y cyc e. B ee ng occurs ut ce s cannotx t t e o y, an pa n u n ammat onerupts. In ev-

ry cycle the growths adds extra tissue and for this

eason en ometr os ssymptoms ten to get worse

ver t me.

Stan ar treatment nvo ves NSAIDs or pa n re e . In

ore a vance cases surgery scons ere t e est

reatment option. Hormonal treatment is commonly

pp e ortreatment o en ometr os s. Ora contra-

ept ves oc t e e ects o natura ormones onen-dometrial growth, which can make endometriosis less

pa n u . T e most e ect vetreatment s ac eve w t

e synt et c pept e Leuprore n w c oc s oes-

rogenproduction. Leuprorelin cannot be taken orally

n t ere ore an a ong- ast ng epot s n ecte un-

er t e s n. T e sa vantage o Leuprore n s t e

nterruption of menses andwomen cannot get preg-

ant. T e treatment s m te to 6 mont s ecause

t e r s orosteoporos s an a ter scont nuat on a

elapse is very likely.

Pycnogenolis helpful for women with

endometriosise poss ty o mprov ng en ometr os s w t

ycnogeno was nvest gate n acomparat ve c n ca

tudy with 58 women receiving either Pycnogenolor

euprore n Ko ama et a ., 007 . A women a un-

ergone surg ca treatment o en ometr os s w t n

6months prior to participation. They suffered recur-

ent mo erate to severe en ometr os s an re useurt er surgery.

Treatment w t Pycnogeno gra ua y ecrease men-

strual pain from initial severepain to moderate pain

t tr a en . T e pa nscore was owere s gn cant y

y 33% ur ng t e treatment per o . Leuprore nsup-

pressed menstruation during treatment.Pycnogenol

was e ect ve or s ow y utstea y ecreas ng pe v c

pa n rom n t a severe to mo erate pa n. Leuprore n

wassignificantly more effective; however, adramatic

re apse occurre w t n 24 wee sa ter o gate s-

ont nuat on.

A spec c ant gen CA-125 s s e rom n ame en-

ometr omas nto t e oo stream an serum CA-125

is considered a good marker for evaluation of the se-

ver ty o a vance en ometros s. Pycnogeno gn -

ant y owere serum CA-125 n cat ng a re uct on

fendometrioma size. Lowering of CA-125 was dra-mat ca y more e ectve w t Leuprore n, owever, va -

ues a most returne to ase ne a ter scont nuaton.

As expecte Leuprore n rast ca y owere womens

estrogen eve . In contrast, over t ew o e treatment

period Pycnogenol did not influence womens oes-

trogen eve .


Pycnogenol Leuprorelin Discontinued

0 4 12 48 weeks24

severe

moderate

mild

Pycnogenollowers pelvic pain in endometriosis



n conc us on, Pycnogeno s s gn cant y e ect ve or mprov ng en ometr os s, t oug t snot as e ect ve as oes-

rogen-inhibition with Leuprorelin. The advantage of Pycnogenolisthe absence of severe side effects. Interestingly,

ve women w t en ometr os s ta ng Pycnogeno e t t e stu y ecause t ey ecame pregnant.

he application of Pycnogenolfor dysmenorrhoea and endometriosis is patented (US patent6,372,266.).

Referencesrench L. Dysmenorrhea.Am Fam Phys 71: 285-291, 2005.

Grimm T, C ovanova Z, Muc ova J et a .In i ition o NF- B activation an MMP-9 secretion y p asma o uman vo unteers

fter ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol ). J Inflamm 3: 1-15, 2006.

Ko ama T, Suzu i N, T e treatment o gynaeco ogica isor ers wit Pycnogeno Eur Bu Drug Res 7 2 : 30-32, 1999.

Ko ama T, Suzu i N, Ohno S et al. Analgesic efficacy French L. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Phys 71: 285-291, 2005.

Grimm T, C ovanova Z, Muc ova J et a . In i ition o NF- B activation an MMP-9 secretion y p asma o uman vo unteers

fter ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol ). J Inflamm 3: 1-15, 2006.

Ko ama T, Suzu i N,T e treatment o gynaeco ogica isor ers wit Pycnogeno . Eur Bu Drug Res 7 2 : 30-32, 1999.

Ko ama T, Suzu i N,O no S et a . Ana gesic e icacy o Pycnogeno in ysmenorr ea. An open c inica tria. J Repro Me

9 10 : 828-832, 2004.

Ko ama T, Herai K, Inoue M.Effect of French maritime pine bark extract on endometriosis as compared with Leuprorelin ac-

tate. J Rep Me , in print, 2007.

chfer A, Chovanova Z, Muchova J et al.Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion

Frenc maritime pine ar extract Pycnogeno . Biome & P armacot er 60: 5-9, 2006.

uzuki N, Uebaba K, Kohama T et al. Effect of Pycnogenol, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, on Dysmenorrhea: a multi-

enter, ran omize , ou e- in , p ace o-contro e stu y. J Repro Me , in print 2007.


C n ca researc suggests Pycnogeno prov es s gn cant ene ts or women v ng w t

menstrua scom ort:

Soothing of pain during the menstrual period

Natural anti-inflammatory activity

Less pa n me cat on s requre

Less ays w t menstrua pa n

Improvement of endometriosis

Oestrogen levels remain unaffected

Pycnogenol for Menstrual Discomfort

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