Pycnogenol^® (Pik-nah-gen-all) is a water extract from the bark of the French maritime pine grown as a mono-species forest, spread over the coastal region of south-west France. The unique source of Pycnogenol^®, the "pine bark" has a well-established monograph based on macroscopic and microscopic findings defining its pharmacogonistic characteristics, an essential feature of the quality confirmation. 

What is in Pycnogenol?

Pycnogenol^® is the brand name for a premium herbal supplement extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. That special pine bark is loaded with a concentrate of active bioflavonoids, which are also found in fresh fruits and vegetables. The extract from that bark is a potent blend of active compounds. Pycnogenol^® represents a natural blend of genetically programmed constant proportions of bioflavonoids including catechin, epicatechin, taxifolin, monomers, dimers of catechin and epicatechin, oligomeric procyanidnins and phenolic fruit acids such as ferulic acid and caffeic acid.

Where does Pycnogenol^® come from?

The source of Pycnogenol^® is a large forest of millions of acres in South-West France near the famous Bordeaux region. That forest is a plantation of French maritime pine trees. The pine trees are cultivated over a period of 30-50 years. Neither pesticides nor herbicides are used in that forest. The thick bark is obtained from the harvest of the trees for lumber.

How is Pycnogenol^® Made?

Pycnogenol^® is produced by a validated manufacturing process following good agricultural practice (GAP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP). There is absolutely no application of pesticides during the growing of pine trees or toxic solvents during the manufacture of Pycnogenol^®, there can be no pesticide or solvent in the finished active substance.

How does Pycnogenol^® work for your health?

As one of the most potent natural scavenger of free radicals, Pycnogenol^® mops-up all kinds of aggressive radicals, before they cause any damage by oxidative stress. Pycnogenol^® boosts the immune system and it strengthens blood vessel walls and capillaries. It supports a better circulation by preventing stress-induced constriction of arteries and blood clotting. Additionally the extract contains substances, which act against cramps.

Free radicals - why fight them?

In every day life our body generates free radicals, especially in case of stress. These chemically unbalanced radicals cause damage to our cells by oxidizing them, in the same way as metal becomes rusty and destroyed. Hence, free radicals are dangerous and scientists believe that the continuous exposure to free radicals is the major cause of ageing and also of many degenerative diseases. As a super-antioxidant, Pycnogenol^® counteracts that danger in two ways: It stimulates our cells to double their antioxidative power and it catches free radicals in the blood stream. That double defense makes Pycnogenol^® unique.

What can Pycnogenol^® do for women?

First of all, women are exposed to stress in the same way as men. Therefore, protection of arteries against blood clotting and constriction is also important for women to reduce the risk of heart infarction or stroke. Many women suffer from problems related to bad circulation: Swelling of the lower legs, cold hands and tendency to easy bruising for example. By sealing the capillaries and enhancing the microcirculation Pycnogenol^® will be a relief. Another point of great interest for women is the protection of the skin against photo-ageing. Intake of Pycnogenol^® reduces the risks of UV-radiation and oxidative stress for the skin. Finally, Pycnogenol^® soothes menstrual disorders like cramps and pain.

It seems that nature has combined the constituents of the pine bark in a way to improve quality of life especially for women.

How does Pycnogenol^® affect the beauty of my skin?

Pycnogenol^® binds and protects collagen, the protein that keeps the skin tight and smooth. Enzymes and free radicals can no longer break down collagen and elastin fibers, the process enabling development of wrinkles. Pycnogenol^® defies the accelerated ageing of the skin due to exposure to sunlight (photo-ageing). Pycnogenol^® helps to lighten-up disturbing dark spots of the skin resulting from over-pigmentation. Pycnogenol^® restores a good blood circulation in tiny capillaries of the skin. With abundance of water and oxygen and removal of waste products the skin is replenished with moisture, looking young and fresh.

How does Pycnogenol^® benefit stressed business people?

Stress means your adrenaline is flowing during traffic jam, demanding phone calls and loads of bad news, that you smoke too much, if you are a smoker. Pycnogenol^® counteracts the increase in blood pressure caused by stress and it helps to prevent the clotting of blood, which may occur in case of stress and smoking. Business people have to work in a sitting position and have to travel a lot. Pycnogenol^® helps against swollen feet and reduced circulation caused by that immobile life style. Intake of Pycnogenol^® may increase cognitive function, reduce the risks of stress and will prevent consequences of immobility.

What about diabetes and Pycnogenol^®?

Diabetes produces oxidative stress and continuously damages blood vessels. The protective action of Pycnogenol^® for blood vessels and capillaries helps to keep blood vessels in diabetes well functioning. Of course, a strict normalization of blood glucose is the best way to prevent these damages. Often a retinopathy is observed in diabetics. Without protection diabetics often develop retinopathy: Tiny capillaries nourishing the retina of the eye spill blood onto the retina causing vision loss. Intake of Pycnogenol^® has been found to reduce the micro bleedings in the retina and to improve eyesight.

Does Maritime Pine PLUS strengthen the Heart?

Yes, several ingredients in the PLUS formula have been studied and assist in strengthening the heart and may assist in recovering after a heart event.

Alpha lipoic acid and the aging heart

Oxidative stress has been implicated as a causal factor in the aging process of the heart and other tissues. Cardiac cells isolated from old rats showed a nearly threefold increase in the rate of oxidant production compared to young rats. Determination of myocardial antioxidant status revealed a significant twofold decline in the levels of ascorbic acid as well as a significant age-related increase in levels of oxidative DNA damage. To investigate whether dietary supplementation with (R)-alpha-lipoic acid was effective at reducing oxidative stress, young and old rats were fed a diet with or without ALA for 2 week.. Cardiac cells from old, ALA-supplemented rats exhibited a markedly lower rate of oxidant production that was no longer significantly different from that in cells from unsupplemented, young rats. Lipoic acid supplementation also restored myocardial ascorbic acid levels and reduced oxidative DNA damage. Our data indicate that the aging rat heart is under increased oxidative stress, which is significantly reduced by lipoic acid supplementation.

Suh JH, Shigeno ET, Morrow JD, Cox B, Rocha AE, Frei B, Hagen TM. - Linus Pauling Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA

The damage to the brain after a heart attack is similar to that after a stroke. After a heart attack there is a period of ischemia, or oxygen deprivation, followed by an explosion of free radicals. This explosion greatly exacerbates the injury. In the experiment, a heart attack was simulated by perfusing the beating rat hearts with a solution that did not contain oxygen. After 40 minutes, the solution was changed, this time using one that contained oxygen. From previous experiments it was known that a heart denied oxygen under these circumstances would only have a 20-25% of recovery to beat normally, the rest would suffer serious or fatal damage. When lipoic acid was added to the solution, the results changed dramatically. Recovery rate rose to nearly 60%. Follow up studies showed the rats that had been fed lipoic acid had much greater protection against free radical damage than the untreated animal

Does Maritime Pine PLUS Help Diabetes?

The diverse range of antioxidants in the Maritime Pine PLUS formula does include benefits for Diabetes patients. Specifically R-ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) has been tested with for use with Diabetes.

Diabetes and Alpha Lipoic Acid:

For well over 30 years physicians in Germany have been clinically treating Diabetics with ALA. Studies worldwide have shown ALA's ability to normalize glucose uptake and utilization. In one study, ALA was even shown to prevent diabetes in 70% of the animals tested. In another study type II diabetics were given 500mg of ALA daily and in 10 days saw a 30% increase in insulin stimulated glucose disposal.(2)

Nerve damage or neuropathy affects over 50% of diabetics and is one of its most damaging complications. A study published in "Diabetes Care" has shown that supplementing with ALA can partly restore diabetic nerve function after only four months of high-dose oral treatment.(1)

(1) Nagamatsu, M., et al. "Lipoic acid improves nerve blood flow, reduces oxidative stress and improves distal nerve conduction in experimental diabetic neuropathy." Diabetes Care, 18: 1160-67, 1995.

(2) Jacob S, Henriksen EJ, Tritschler HJ, et al. Improvement of insulin-stimulated glucose-disposal in type 2 diabetes after repeated parenteral administration of thioctic acid. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1996;104:284-288.

Is Pycnogenol^® helpful for smokers?

For smokers, unable to quit smoking, Pycnogenol^® gives a protection against the cardio-vascular risks by preventing the clotting of blood platelets, caused by smoking. Furthermore Pycnogenol^® inhibits the nicotine-induced constriction of blood vessels. Both effects together help to reduce the risk of clogged arteries and veins, the primary cause of heart infarction and stroke.

How about chronic bronchitis and asthma?

Asthma and chronic bronchitis are both caused by chronic inflammation of lung tissue. Intake of Pycnogenol^® decreases the amount of circulating inflammatory substances in the blood stream and has been shown to improve asthma symptoms and the lung function. It inhibits additionally those enzymes responsible for the destruction of lung tissue in chronic bronchitis.

Doing sport with Pycnogenol^®?

Sport always creates oxidative stress, as the metabolism rises, reflected by a 10-20 fold increase of inhaled oxygen. Trained athletes cope with oxidative stress by an increased production of anti-oxidative enzymes, protecting their cells against the burst of free radicals. That's exactly what Pycnogenol^® does: It stimulates the cells to produce more anti-oxidative enzymes and free radical scavengers. An investigation with recreational athletes on a treadmill has shown that Pycnogenol^® increased endurance. Pycnogenol^® protects against the overload of free radicals and allows a better performance.

Will I feel any difference when I take Pycnogenol^®?

Not all people are alike. Sensitive persons feel revitalized, some even experience difficulties to fall asleep at night when taking Pycnogenol^® in the evening. Many ailments you suffer from may be relieved after prolonged usage of Pycnogenol^®. However, the main reason to take Pycnogenol^® is to stay healthy and keep optimal body functions.

How much Pycnogenol^® should I take?

For general use as a supplement, a typical daily dosage would be 1 mg per kilogram of body weight, or follow the directions on the packaging. Please consult your physician if you are taking Pycnogenol^® for a specific condition.

Are there any side effects?

Because of its astringent taste, which occasionally causes minor stomach discomfort it is best to take Pycnogenol^® with or after meals. To date, no serious adverse effects have been reported.

Is Pycnogenol^® safe?

Pycnogenol^® is one of the best-researched food supplements and it has passed extensive safety tests. Toxicity tests have demonstrated a very low toxicity. No serious adverse event had been observed in clinical trials. Mild side effects as gastro-intestinal discomfort, headache, nausea and dizziness were seldom reported. Extensive research over a period of more than 30 years was dedicated to safety of Pycnogenol^® and to substantiate the manifold benefits for human health of this extraordinary extract. Purity and potency of Pycnogenol^® are continuously monitored and Horphag Research guarantees its constant high quality.

Should I use Pycnogenol^® instead of vitamins?

No. Vitamins are as important for your health as Pycnogenol^®. Pycnogenol^® acts in synergy with vitamins. It recycles and spares vitamins C and E, so they act longer in your body. Take Pycnogenol^® along with your vitamins and feel the difference.

Should pregnant women and small children take Pycnogenol^®?

As a general precaution, pregnant women should not take Pycnogenol^® within the first 3 months of pregnancy. Because there is no experience with small children, children under the age of 6 should not take Pycnogenol^®. That precaution measure is given beside the fact that no adverse effects had been observed in test series.

Pycnogenol^® (Pik-nah-gen-all) is a water extract from the bark of the French maritime pine grown as a mono-species forest, spread over the coastal region of south-west France. The unique source of Pycnogenol^®, the "pine bark" has a well-established monograph based on macroscopic and microscopic findings defining its pharmacogonistic characteristics, an essential feature of the quality confirmation.

Pycnogenol^® is produced by a validated manufacturing process following good agricultural practice (GAP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP). There is absolutely no application of pesticides during the growing of pine trees or toxic solvents during the manufacture of Pycnogenol^®, there can be no pesticide or solvent in the finished active substance.
Pycnogenol^® represents a natural blend of genetically programmed constant proportions of bioflavonoids including catechin, epicatechin, taxifolin, monomers, dimers of catechin and epicatechin, oligomeric procyanidnins and phenolic fruit acids such as ferulic acid and caffeic acid.

Nutritional Details

INGREDIENTS:

French Maritime Pine Extract: SuVida uses Premium Sourced French Maritime Pine extract from Dr. Masquelier that for over 50 years has been researched and backed by multiple French, British and American patents.It has been validated via renowned research centers including a highly qualified, independent U.S Universities that put it through 5 analytical methods to ensure efficacy.

Cellular Delivery System: Even the best nutrients in the world are of little value if you cannot absorb them at the cellular level. Maritime Pine Plus incorporates unprecedented delivery nutrients, starting with a broad spectrum digestive enzyme blend (amylase, lipase, protease, cellulase, invertase, maltase) and enhanced it with BioperineT which is a patented bioavailability enhancer that has clinically demonstrated its ability to increase antioxidant absorption.

R-ALA: R-ALA is the purest form of Alpha Lipoic Acid that is up to 12 times more beneficial than regular Alpha Lipoic Acid. Studies by renowned medical centers and researchers have confirmed its benefit in many areas including: Neuropathy, Diabetes, Anti-Aging, Alzheimers, Heart Disease, Parkinson's, Stroke, Cancer, Aids, and Liver Protection. R-ALA is the only form of Alpha Lipoic Acid that has been proven scientifically to reduce inflammation, increase mitochondrial antioxidant activity, improve memory, protect the brain from neurodegenration associated with aging, enhance glucose transport, protect fats against oxidative damage, chelate harmful metals and reverse stress damage in the heart, and increase other antioxidant activity levels.

LeucoSelect®: Has undergone recent research showing it to be a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger providing important cellular protection. In addition, studies have shown LeucoSelect® to improve microcirculation, enhance poor night vision, reduce swelling and strengthen capillaries as well as connective tissues. LeucoSelect® has been tested in more clinical trials (trials with human subjects) than any other grape seed extract.

MirtoSelectT: MirtoSelectT is the only scientifically proven form of bilberry extract that has demonstrated human benefit for improving vision vascular permeability, edema, hemorrhaging, and issues related to peripheral circulation disorders. This form of Bilberry extract is so effective that it is actually available by prescription in Europe. No detail is left unattended from growing season, conditions, quality of fruit, and ability to rush the berries to a nearby facility before nutrients are diminished.

Enzogenol®: Enzogenol is a unique pine bark extract that has undergone extensive and unique analysis to ensure purity, potency, and diversity. Enzogenol® is extracted via a patented pure water molecular selection procedure, and each batch is analyzed for purity and potency. The benefits of Enzogneol® such as decreased joint and arthritic pain were even featured on a CNN World wide Health Report. Other user-reported benefits include better circulatory related symptoms, softer skin, thicker/healthier hair, and more energy