Slow Sugar Five years ago, William Campbell Douglass, II, M.D., told readers of his Daily Dose e-letter that Pycnogenol might compete with aspirin as the "wonder drug" of the 21st Century. New research helps confirm that claim - especially for patients with type 2 diabetes. Wonder drugs collide As I've noted in past e-Alerts, Pycnogenol is an extract taken from the inner bark of pine trees that grow in a French maritime forest. The active ingredient is a compound called Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin (OPC), a powerful antioxidant that contains a variety of polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties that have been shown to benefit the cardiovascular system by promoting proper blood flow. In the e-Alert "Pyc a Little, Talk a Little" (1/22/04), I told you about a study in which 38 cigarette smokers were divided into two groups to received either 500 mg of aspirin or 125 mg of Pycnogenol. After taking these doses, each subject was asked to smoke a cigarette to increase blood platelet aggregation. Blood samples taken two hours later showed that both interventions significantly reduced platelet aggregation, but aspirin increased bleeding while Pycnogenol did not. Dr. Douglass also reported on a study in which 30 subjects were given Pycnogenol and 10 were given placebo. Compared to placebo, those in the Pycnogenol had significant reduction in venous pressure, capillary leakage, and blood vessel inflammation. No side effects or changes in blood chemistry were reported. Bonus benefits Pycnogenol provides healthy benefits for the cardiovascular system (which is a huge benefit for diabetics), but also offers diabetics a way to help manage blood sugar levels. About a month ago I came across a press release for a new study that's scheduled to be published in an upcoming issue of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. One month later it still hasn't appeared, but I want to get this information out to you, so for now I'll fill you in on the details I know, and then follow up later with further information after publication. STUDY PROFILE Researchers at Germany's University of Wurzburg examined the effect that Pycnogenol has on alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme in the digestive tract that breaks down carbohydrates into glucose molecules Pycnogenol was compared to acarbose, a synthetic drug (sold under the brand name Precose) that inhibits alpha-glucosidase Pycnogenol was found to be 190 times more effective at inhibiting alpha-glucosidase, producing a greater delay in glucose absorption Lead researcher Dr. Petra Hogger noted that the high concentration of flavonoids in Pycnogenol is responsible for slowing the entrance of carbohydrates into the blood stream. Putting the breaks on glucose The Wurzburg results are similar to the results of two other studies covered in previous e-Alerts: In a trial that included nearly 80 subjects with type 2 diabetes, half received 100 mg of Pycnogenol daily and half received a placebo. After 12 weeks, subjects in the Pycnogenol group significantly lowered their plasma glucose levels compared to placebo. Pycnogenol subjects were also found to have improved artery function. In a trial of 30 type 2 diabetics, researchers gave subjects Pycnogenol doses of 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg each day in three-week intervals. Subjects who received 100 to 300 mg of Pycnogenol significantly lowered their fasting glucose levels. You can find more information about Pycnogenol - including links to additional research - at pycnogenol.com. You can't purchase Pycnogenol through that site, but links to several vendors are provided. If you have type 2 diabetes or are at high risk of heart disease, talk to your doctor or health care professional before taking Pycnogenol. OPC is also found in strawberries, grape seed, and grape skin. | 
