'Breakthrough' study supports Pycnogenol's vascular benefits

'Breakthrough' study supports Pycnogenol's vascular benefits
By Stephen DANIELLS, Nut 07-Jun-2012

Daily supplements of an extract from French Maritime Pine bark may boost vascular health in people with stable coronary artery disease, according to data from a gold standard randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study from Switzerland.

Eight weeks of supplementation with Pycnogenol were associated with significant improvements in the function of the cells lining blood vessels (endothelial cells), report researchers from the University Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich.

Writing in the European Heart Journal, the Switzerland-based scientists report that 200 milligrams per day of the pine bark extract resulted in an increase in flow mediated dilation (FMD) from 5.3 to 7.0, while no such improvements were observed for placebo. FMD is a measure of a blood vessel's healthy ability to relax.

Dr Frank Enseleit, the lead researcher of the study, said: “The results of this study show for the first time that Pycnogenol significantly improves endothelial function and blood flow in patients with coronary heart disease.

“The contribution of Pycnogenol for vascular health can be clearly identified in spite of patients’ complex medication regimen of blood thinners, statins and blood pressure medications.”

Pycnogenol has been the subject of scores of clinical studies suggesting benefits covering everything from cardiovascular, joint, cognitive and eye health to the relief of hay fever, PMS, tinnitus, hemorrhoidal pain and menopause symptoms.

Commenting on the new study, Victor Ferrari, CEO of Horphag, told NutraIngredients-USA that numerous Pycnogenol-containing products targeting circulatory health and heart health are already available in almost all the company’s markets world-wide.

“Early research on Pycnogenol has been performed in the field of venous insufficiency and circulatory support. We are therefore extremely pleased to see these wonderful results in such a high end clinical trial,” he said.

The participants also received statins, anti-hypertensives and blood thinners throughout the study. 

“After Pycnogenol usage, we were able to identify a significant improvement of endothelial function in individuals who depend on medications as a result of their heart disease,” said Dr Enseleit.

“Pycnogenol appears to help restore the body’s own functions in flow-mediated arterial dilatation.”

To read more about this article and the full study click here 

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Know the basics: Good nutrition plays a vital role in overall good health.

Know the basics
Good nutrition plays a vital role  in overall good health.

Good nutrition is essential to life long health.  A proper diet means replacing unhealthy foods with nutrient rich options. Fad diets often promise quick but short live results.  Instead, you can help ensure overall health with wise food choices that will soon become habits.
According to the US Department of health and human services, healthier eating habits could reduce cancer deaths in the United States by as much as 35%.  Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet also helps reduce the risk of stroke.

Bottom line:  Eat right. Feel good.

Fruits and vegetables- Harvard studies have shown that for every extra serving of fruits and vegetables you add to your diet, you lower your risk of heart disease by 4%.  Center dishes around vegetables rather than meat. Colorful vegetables carry more nutrients.

Fats- Not all fat's our bad.  While essential fats help supply energy, saturated and trans fats can raise "bad" cholesterol.  Cook more often at home to avoid the trans fat found in commercially prepared foods.

Grains and fiber- Whole greens are better than refined grains, because they include plenty of the fire that promotes digestive health.  Incorporate fiber rich foods such as strawberries interbrand to hope reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Meats and beans- Choose lean beef, such as top round and sirloin, or skinless chicken.  Six ounces of fish per week has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 36%.  The US Department of agriculture recommends 5.5 ounces a day of food from the meats and beans group, which also includes eggs and nuts.

Salt- More than 75% of sodium comes from processed foods.  Replaced canned items with fresh fair.  Use herbs and spices to flavor meats instead of salt.

Dairy- Eat Dairy products such as low-fat yogurt and skim milk to sustain strong bones.
Although each person's calorie needs differ, the nutrient facts label provide a common difference.

Being more aware of what you eat will help sustain a healthy life style.  Be sure to schedule regular checkups with your doctor to discuss a balanced diet because each person's needs are different.

Study Finds Antioxidant Effective For Autism

Study Finds Antioxidant Effective For Autism

by Sean Wells

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a nutrient well-known specifically for displaying strong antioxidant activity, has been advocated as a valuable asset for purposes related to detoxification. A new study now suggests it may be effective in easing irritability and repetitive behaviors in children with autism–a disorder displaying alarming increases.

The 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involved 33 children, aged 3 to 12, and, reflective of the general characteristic of the disorder, predominantly male (31 of 33). All were diagnosed with an autistic disorder and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) score of 4 or higher.

The children were randomly divided into experimental and placebo groups. The N-acetyl cysteine protocol involved a steady increase in dosage, consisting first of 900 mg of NAC administered daily for four  weeks, followed by 900 mg twice daily for four weeks, followed by 900 mg taken three times daily for a final four weeks.

Follow-up data were available on 14 of the children in the NAC-receiving group and on 15 children in the placebo group. Compared with placebo, NAC treatment was associated with a significant decrease in irritability scores from 13.1 to 7.2 on the Aberrant Behavior Check List (or ABC) irritability subscale. Improvement was observed in week four and continued through weeks eight and 12, according to authors.

The change is not as large as that seen in children taking antipsychotics, according to lead investigator Antonio Hardan, MD, from Stanford University School of Medicine, in Palo Alto, California, “but this is still a potentially valuable tool to have before jumping on these big guns.”

These results lend some support to related observations involving dietary changes in autistic children, particularly so-called “elimination diets”, and collectively these studies serve to strengthen the association believed to exist between certain nutritional “pollutants” and the impaired cognitive function characteristic of autism. Additional research is required to help narrow the focus, but the study above not only reveals more about the causes of autism, but potentially one part of the solution.