Study of Pycnogenol (Horphag Research Ltd) shows positive results in treatment of Asthma

A new study suggests that Pycnogenol (pine bark extract), from Horphag Research Ltd, can help improve control of allergic Asthma, reducing night awakenings caused by asthma symptoms by nearly 50 percent. Asthma patients who used Pycnogenol experienced reduced dependence on inhalation corticosteroid (ICS), which is commonly administered through an inhaler, and required less visits to a doctor due to asthma symptoms.

The study, conducted at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at University of Pescara, Italy examined 76 patients, aged 25 � 45 years, with mild to moderate allergic Asthma to dust mites throughout a six month period. Results suggest that Pycnogenol supplementation helped lower the daily required ICS dosage in 55% of participants. In the control group only 6% of patients were able to control their asthma with a lower steroid dosage, while 19% had to switch to a higher regimen to control their asthma. Pycnogenol reduced night awakenings caused by asthma symptoms to only half the frequency as before, while no significant change was found for the control group. It also lowered the amount of days with a more than a one asthma score, which is a measure used to evaluate asthmatic patients' degree of respiratory distress.

The study was published in Panminerva Medica: "Pycnogenol improvements in asthma management." Belcaro G et al. Panminerva Medica 2011 September; 53(3 Suppl 1):57-64