New published research reveals the natural supplement Pycnogenol® taken with CoQ10 improves heart health, blood volume output, physical fitness, blood pressure, as well as heart and respiratory rate.
A study published in the journal Panminerva Medica reveals that the natural supplements Pycnogenol® and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) taken together by stable heart failure patients naturally strengthens the heart, increasing the blood volume ejected with each beat.
As a consequence, the oxygen-rich blood supply to the organs improves, and patients become more physically energetic. Furthermore, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rates were improved among patients.
Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all) is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, widely available in UK health food shops and clinically proven to improve endothelial function and blood flow. As evidenced by this study, Pycnogenol®, in combination with CoQ10, offers a potent contribution to heart health management.
Heart failure is a common, chronic, long-term condition that develops as a result of hypertension, when heart chamber walls wear out and heart muscle weaken. The disease can be costly, disabling and potentially deadly and is characterised by the heart's inability to pump or eject sufficient amounts of blood to the organs.
"Many conditions that lead to heart failure cannot be reversed, but heart failure can often be medically managed with good results," said Dr. Gianni Belcaro, a lead researcher of the study. "This study shows that a combination of Pycnogenol® and CoQ10 offers an effective, natural solution as adjunct for heart health management."
The 12-week single-blinded, placebo-controlled observational study was conducted at Chieti-Pescara University in Italy and investigated the effectiveness of Pycnogenol® and CoQ10 supplementation in 53 patients between the ages of 54 and 68 who had mild to moderate hypertension, with stable congestive heart failure. Patients recruited had been diagnosed with heart failure with an ejection fraction lower than 40 percent of their original capacity. The ejection fraction, the pumped blood volume from the left heart ventricle, was measured by high-resolution ultrasound. All patients were taking prescribed heart medication and most patients used three or more drugs for heart failure treatment.
Patients were divided into two groups: One group received capsules with a combination of 15 mg Pycnogenol® and 50 mg CoQ10, the second group received placebo capsules, while both groups continued to take their individual prescription medications. The treatment and control groups were equivalent at baseline. Patients were instructed to take seven capsules, in the morning after breakfast, each day. Patients' exercise capacity, as judged by walking on a treadmill, ejection fraction and distal edema (swelling in the leg) were evaluated.
At the conclusion of the 12-week study, there was significant decrease of systolic and diastolic pressure as well as a decrease in heart rate in the group taking the supplements, compared to marginal improvements in the control group. Systolic and diastolic pressure was notably lowered in the supplement group from 139.2 to 133.2 mmHg and 82.3 to 77.3 mmHg, versus 140.3 to 139.5 mmHg and 83.4 to 81.2 mmHg in the control group. Heart rate was also significantly lowered from 78.4 to 74.2 beats per minute as compared to 79.1 to 78.4 in the control group. There was also considerable decrease in respiratory rate in patients taking the supplements from 23.1 to 21.2 breaths per minute versus 23.3 to 22.3 in the control group. The treatment with Pycnogenol® and CoQ10 was found to significantly increase heart ejection fraction by 22.4 percent after treatment, whereas it only slightly decreased in the control group.
The physical abilities of patients improved substantially as evidenced by 3.3 times longer walking distance on a treadmill in patients who took the supplement, versus marginal improvement in the control group. As the heart is strengthened, a larger blood volume is pumped with every beat. This allows the heart to lower the beat rate and still sufficiently supply body organs with oxygen.
The quality of life of patients also improved with Pycnogenol® and CoQ10, as validated with the Karnofsky Index, a performance scale that rates patients according to their functional impairment. At baseline patients had Karnofsky values of 43 percent, which is categorised as "handicapped and dependent on qualified medical help." After treatment with Pycnogenol® and CoQ10, the values were up to 54.7 percent, described as "help and medical assistance are often required." No significant improvement of Karnofsky Index was observed in the control group. The distal edema, expressed as the percentage of the initial volumetric value, decreased significantly to 72 percent in the treated patients but was increased by four percent in the control group.
"Coenzyme Q10 has been extensively researched for its ability to strengthen the heart muscle, specifically in patients with heart failure. Preclinical trials have suggested that Pycnogenol® strengthens heart chamber walls and dilates arteries," said Dr. Belcaro. "These preliminary observations suggest that the respective contributions of CoenzymeQ10 and Pycnogenol® may significantly improve heart health."
About Pycnogenol®
This study showed decreased blood pressure and heart rate, confirming results from prior studies using Pycnogenol® and CoQ10. Previous studies have found that Pycnogenol® significantly improves endothelial function and consequently improves hypertension as well as long-term consequences such as renal function problems. To date, Pycnogenol® has been investigated in more than 30 clinical trials related to cardiovascular health.
Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the past 40 years and has more than 280 published studies and review articles ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol® is available in more than 700 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products worldwide, on sale at health food shops across the UK.
Source:
Pegasus Public Relations Ltd