Just In
- 12 hrs ago Heeramandi Screening: Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Rashmika Mandanna And Others Serve Finest Ethnic Style!
- 13 hrs ago From Alia Bhatt To Kriti Sanon, Korean Beauty Products That Bollywood Divas Swear By
- 16 hrs ago Exclusive: On World Malaria Day 2024, Dr Shares Danger Signs Parents Must Watch Out For In Child With Malaria
- 16 hrs ago Exclusive: Expert Debunks 5 Common Misconceptions About Expectant Mothers That You Need To Steer Clear From
Don't Miss
- Sports Who Won Yesterday's IPL Match 41? SRH vs RCB, IPL 2024 on April 25: Royal Challengers Bangalore End Losing Streak
- Finance Bajaj Group Stock Declares Rs. 60/Share Dividend: Buy Ahead of Record Date On 28 June?
- Movies TRP Report Week 16: Anupamaa, Jhanak BEAT Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Ghum Hai. Top 10 Shows List
- News MEA Dismisses US Human Rights Report On Manipur As 'Biased And Misinformed'
- Automobiles Royal Enfield Unveils Revolutionary Rentals & Tours Service: Check Out All Details Here
- Technology Elon Musk’s X Is Launching a TV App Similar to YouTube for Watching Videos
- Education AICTE introduces career portal for 3 million students, offering fully-sponsored trip to Silicon Valley
- Travel Escape to Kalimpong, Gangtok, and Darjeeling with IRCTC's Tour Package; Check Itinerary
Pine Bark Extract May Help Diabetics
An antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree may decrease blood pressure and the use of blood pressure medication among diabetics, thus reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, according to a new study.
The team found that the extract reduces blood sugar in type II diabetes patients, allows people to lower their antihypertensive medication and improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
The study, conducted at the University of Arizona, Tucson, indicates Pycnogenol may serve as a potent adjunct to prescription medications for diabetics.
"Most people with type II diabetes have cholesterol problems and half of those people experience hypertension. It has been documented that Pycnogenol mediates a number of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system for diabetics and healthy individuals," said Dr. Ronald Watson, a lead researcher of the study.
"Previous studies have shown Pycnogenol supplementation to be associated with reducing platelet aggregation, lowering LDL and increasing HDL cholesterol and modifying hypertension, among others.
“But what really makes the study results compelling is Pycnogenol simultaneously lowered blood glucose, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure in patients. Furthermore, this is the first study suggesting that Pycnogenol might also be beneficial in protecting kidney function in diabetics," he added.
The 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial consisted of 48 men and women, 40 to 75 years of age, with noninsulin-dependent type II diabetes, taking anti-diabetic medication with metformin, sulfonylurea and glitazones.
Furthermore, they took antihypertensive medications with ACE inhibitors such as Lisinopril. Despite their medication their fasting blood sugar was above healthy values (142 mg/dL) and their average systolic blood pressure was 139 mmHg subjects were randomly assigned to receive either Pycnogenol (25 mg, 5 times daily) or matched placebo. Participants were instructed to continue taking their prescription medications.
Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at baseline and at biweekly follow-up visits physicians tried to lower the patient's individual anti-hypertensive medication with aim to keep it below 130 mmHg. At monthly follow-up visits, all unused prescription medications were collected and counted.
Change from baseline at weeks four, eight and 12 were calculated after eight hours of fasting for assessing plasma glucose, LDL cholesterol and endothelin-1. Urinary protein concentration was measured from spot urine samples on a monthly basis.
In the Pycnogenol treated groups, results revealed Pycnogenol achieved blood pressure control in 58.3 percent of patients at the end of the 12 weeks with 50 percent reduction in prescription medications. Plasma endothelin-1, a very potent hormone-like arterial constrictor, which is, typically elevated in diabetes patients, decreased by 17.8 percent.
The constriction of arteries is believed to be the cause of hypertension and the decreased endothelin-1 with Pycnogenol is suggested to be the cause for the healthier blood pressure. The mean average blood glucose decreased from high 142.3 mg/dL to a healthy value 118.6, a decrease by 16.7 percent after 12 weeks. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved significantly, declining by 11.9 percent.
"It is amazing to see that adding Pycnogenol to the regimen of prescription medication brought blood glucose to healthy levels, allowed half the patients to reach healthy blood pressure and enabled 58% to even lower their anti-hypertensive medication," said Watson.
"An absolutely new finding is that Pycnogenol appears to improve kidney function in diabetic people, this deserves more attention in future investigations. Pycnogenol should be standard adjunct to pharmaceutical treatment of diabetic patients to help control an array of cardiovascular problems."
The study appears in the May 2008 (volume 8, issue 25) edition of the journal of Nutrition Research.
- healthExclusive: World Oral Health Day 2024: Doctor Shares How Diabetic Patients Can Maintain Their Oral Health
- healthWhat Is VIP? It Is Not What You Think! This One Is Connected To Blood Glucose, Here's What You Need To Know
- pregnancy parentingWhat Are The 4 Must Have Vitamins For Kids With Diabetes?
- healthDoes This Everyday Cooking Ingredient Trigger Diabetes?
- healthRoller Coaster Effect In Diabetes: Why Does My Blood Sugar Level Go Up And Down, How To Stop It
- healthSinger Shakira Loves These 2 Indian Sweets! How To Make It Diet-Friendly?
- healthWorld Diabetes Day 2023: 3 Weird Things That Can Put You At Risk Of Developing Diabetes
- healthWorld Diabetes Day 2023: Daily Habits That Make One At Risk Of Diabetes
- wellnessWorld Diabetes Day 2023: Avoid These Common Mistakes When Testing Blood Sugar Levels
- healthDiwali 2023: Kalakand Recipe For Diabetic People; It Is Sugar-Free & Keto-Friendly
- healthHow Poor Air Quality During Can Raise Your Diabetes Risk
- healthWhip Up These 3 Diwali Sweets For Your Diabetic Mom Over 40