Pycnogenol® for Retinopathy

Pycnogenol®, a patented extract made from French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), may help prevent eye problems associated with diabetes, researchers report.

One of the most common complications of diabetes is retinopathy. This disease occurs when the small blood vessels in the retina (located in the back of the eye) become damaged. The retina sends visual images to the brain, where they are perceived. Because the blood vessels supply the retina with oxygen, retinopathy may result in partial or complete vision loss. As retinopathy advances, the lack of oxygen may cause abnormal new blood vessels to grow into the retina, which may further damage the retina and worsen vision loss. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among American adults.

Earlier research suggested that Pycnogenol® may help prevent or slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy. It has been theorized that compounds in Pycnogenol® may stick to proteins in blood vessel walls to create a sealing effect. However, results were limited by a small sample size and unclear methodology.

The current study included 46 patients with diabetes and early-stage retinopathy. At this stage, there is only minor leakage from blood vessels into the retina, and damage is often reversible. Blood glucose levels were well-controlled with antidiabetic medications. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either 150 milligrams of Pycnogenol® or placebo daily for three months.

By the end of the study, patients in the Pycnogenol® group subjectively reported significant improvements in vision. Visual acuity, measured with the Snellen chart, improved from 14/20 at the beginning of the study to 17/20 after supplementation. Pycnogenol® treatment also led to significant improvements in retinal swelling and blood flow velocity in the retinal blood vessels.

No such beneficial effects were reported in the control group.

The authors suggest that these beneficial effects may be attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and capillary-protective effects of Pycnogenol®.

Although promising, additional research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of Pycnogenol® for diabetic retinopathy.

For more information about integrative therapies for diabetic retinopathy, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Comments

[Grace Caulfield]

Pycnogenol® contains procyanidins, which are oligomeric catechins. These can also be found in high concentrations in red wine, grapes, cocoa, cranberries and apples. They also have antioxidant properties.

[Mir]

A report suggests that the product’s antioxidant properties in several cell systems come from Pycnogenol’s® ability to double the intracellular synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. Pycnogenol® is also a potent free radicals scavenger. It also appears to be safe and well tolerated with very few adverse events reported in the studies.

This is great news for the people with this debilitating disease. However, despite all of the positives, I would still be cautiously optimistic with this report, as the number of the participants, as well as the study longevity and more importantly, the long-term effects on the vision, do not instill too much confidence in me at the moment.

[DF]

Grape seed extract is another source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) that has shown promise for diabetic retinopathy, and it tends to be less expensive than Pycnogenol®. It would be interesting to see a study that compared the effectiveness of the two supplements for this condition.

[Dental Lubbock]

This is informative. Diabetic retinopathy represents a serious health threat to a rapidly growing number of patients with diabetes mellitus. Pycnogenol® was shown to improve capillary resistance and reduce leakages into the retina.

[DF]

In addition to considering supplementation with Pycnogenol® or grape seed extract, people with diabetic retinopathy may want to get screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A study of 118 men with type 2 diabetes found that retinopathy was present in 54% of those who also had OSA, compared to only 31% of those without OSA. The study was presented at a May meeting of the American Thoracic Society.

[KJ]

It is important to note that the best option when it comes to diabetic retinopathy is prevention. The best way to prevent the development or progression is to keep blood sugar levels under control. Keeping sugars as close to goal level as possible, with minimal spikes and dips, prevents damage to the blood vessels in the eye. Another aspect of prevention is controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which can also cause damage to the vessels in the eye. A study on the use of Pycnogenol in patients without evidence of diabetic retinopathy for prevention would be useful.

[curious]

This herbal extract has been in the news a lot lately, particularly for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. I wonder if it is safe though. Is there anything I should be cautious about before trying this?

[kate]

Pycnogenol® is likely safe when used in doses of up to 360mg daily for up to 4 weeks. It may be unsafe in patients with diabetes or on hypoglycemic agents, as it may have blood sugar-lowering effects. It may also be unsafe in patients with bleeding disorders due to its anticoagulation effect. Pycnogenol® may also lower blood pressure, so it should be used with caution in patients taking antihypertensive medications. As for adverse effects, Pycnogenol® is reported as being well tolerated, but may cause minor stomach discomfort, nausea, headache, vertigo and dizziness.

[np]

Pycnogenol® is generally well-tolerated, and no serious side effects have been reported; however, it is important to note that the data on serious side effects seem to be lacking. It is best to take Pycnogenol® with meals because of its astringent effect and occasional minor stomach discomfort.

Overall, it is important to speak with your physician before taking this, as other medications might interact. For instance, studies suggest that the use of antidiabetic agents with Pyconogenol® can increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Therefore, it is important to monitor for signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which include sweating, dizziness, anxiousness, etc. Pycnogenol® might also increase the risk of bleeding if concurrently used with a blood-thinning medication.

[KTR3]

This is really interesting to me because I know people who have suffered terrible consequences of diabetes, including retinopathy. Although I feel like the main objective is to help prevent something like retinopathy through patient education and proper care, knowing that there may be a natural remedy, such as Pycnogenol, to help those who have already reached this state is great news. I would like to see more studies performed in this area.

[rsamd]

Retinopathy is a very debilitating side effect of diabetes. Even though the study mentioned had methodological issues and a small sample size, it seems to be a promising area of research if it helps to prevent or slow the progression of retinopathy. I will definitely be keeping an “eye” out for this topic!