Pycnogenol appears to be an effective and safe supplementary management in healthy subjects with idiopathic back pain. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Primary benign back pain: supplementation with Pycnogenol®.
Panminerva Med. 2021 Dec ;63(4):472-477. PMID: 34915691
David Cox
BACKGROUND: Back pain (BP) is one of the most common problems seen by general practitioners. The aim of this pilot registry study was to evaluate the effects of Pycnogenol(French Maritime Pine Bark extract) on pain, mobility and muscle spasm in patients with recurring episodes of back pain without any other clinical condition.
METHODS: The registry follow-up lasted 3 weeks. Subjects used either SM (standard management), including mild exercise and 3 days of resting or immobilization - or SM+Pycnogenol200 mg/day (4 cps/day).
RESULTS: Eighty-two subjects were included in the study, 23 took Pycnogenoland 59 were in the SM group. No safety problems or tolerability problems were observed with Pycnogenolor with the SM. The two groups, SM and SM+Pycnogenol, were comparable at inclusion. A prevalent localization to the lower part of the back/spine was observed in all patients of both groups. The improvement in Karnofsky performance status Scale - expressing the global physical capacity of the individuals - during the 3 weeks of follow-up was significantly higher and faster in the Pycnogenolgroup (P<0.05) compared to SM. Patients were able to restart physical training in 3 weeks with Pycnogenol(in comparison with 4.5 weeks with SM only). The decrease in back pain score (VASL score) was faster and more pronounced with Pycnogenol(P<0.05) compared to SM. Oxidative stress was significantly reduced in subjects using Pycnogenol(P<0.05) while it remained elevated in the control group. The use of the rescue medication doses (ibuprofen) was significantly higher in the SM only (P<0.05) in comparison with SM+Pycnogenol.
CONCLUSIONS: Pycnogenolappears to be an effective and safe supplementary management in healthy subjects with idiopathic BP. Mobility, pain, general physical capacity and oxidative stress improved in only a week with further improvements up to 4 weeks in most patients; results appear to be better and faster with Pycnogenolsupplementation than with SM alone.