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Pyc6.0
Pycnogenol Research
Likely helps
118 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Pycnogenol appears to help in 10 of 13 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2000–2025 with a typical study size of 442 participants.
Based on 118 studies · 36 meta-analyses · 72 RCTs · 26,140 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
10helped1unclear2didn't help· 105 more without graded effect data
27 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
200020122025
1Cardiometabolic risk factorsMeta-AnalysisCited 6×n=1,685 · large study2025
Supplementation with PBE may ameliorate specific cardiometabolic risk factors, as indicated by reductions in body weight, DBP, SBP, FBS, LDL, and HbA1c levels.
Mohammadi S et al. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2025)
Supplementation with PBE may ameliorate specific cardiometabolic risk factors, as indicated by reductions in body weight, DBP, SBP, FBS, LDL, and HbA1c levels.
This approach can be regarded as an adjunct therapeutic strategy for CMS management.
Further high-quality trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are required to validate these findings.
2ADHD symptom improvement with antioxidantsMeta-AnalysisCited 5×n=3,650 · very large study2024
The rankings of safety and efficacy of the 12 antioxidants vary.
Zhou P et al. · PloS one (2024)
The rankings of safety and efficacy of the 12 antioxidants vary.
Due to the low methodological quality of the included studies, the probability ranking cannot fully explain the clinical efficacy, and the results need to be interpreted with caution.
More high-quality studies are still needed to verify our findings.
4Adverse eventsMeta-AnalysisCited 47×n=7,690 · very large study2020
There is moderate-certainty evidence that phlebotonics probably reduce oedema slightly, compared to placebo; moderate-certainty evidence of little or no difference in QoL; and low-certainty evidence that these drugs do not influence ulcer healing.
Martinez-Zapata MJ et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
Noticeable harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Pooled data suggest that phlebotonics probably increase adverse events slightly, compared to placebo (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.27; 37 studies; 5789 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).
There is moderate-certainty evidence that phlebotonics probably reduce oedema slightly, compared to placebo; moderate-certainty evidence of little or no difference in QoL; and low-certainty evidence that these drugs do not influence ulcer healing.
Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that phlebotonics are probably associated with a higher risk of adverse events than placebo.
5HbA1c reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 26×n=1,641 · large study2020
Small sample sizes, limited numbers of RCTs per condition, variation in outcome measures, and poor reporting of the included RCTs mean no definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy or safety of pine bark extract supplements are possible.
Robertson NU et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
In a mixed group of participants with type 1 and type 2 DM we do not know whether pine bark extract decreases HbA1c (MD -0.20 %, 95% CI -1.83 to 1.43; one study; 67 participants; very low-certainty evidence).
We do not know whether pine bark extract increases bone alkaline phosphatase in post-menopausal women with osteopenia (MD 1.16 ug/L, 95% CI -2.37 to 4.69; one study; 40 participants; very low-certainty evidence).
Small sample sizes, limited numbers of RCTs per condition, variation in outcome measures, and poor reporting of the included RCTs mean no definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy or safety of pine bark extract supplements are possible.
6HDL cholesterol increaseMeta-AnalysisCited 12×n=1,065 · large study2019
Since there are few phytochemicals that have a significant increasing effect on HDL-C levels, pycnogenol may have important role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Hadi A et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
To estimate the effect size, changes in blood lipids were implemented.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials with 1,065 participants suggested a significant increase in plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; 3.27 mg/dL; 95% CI [0.19, 6.36]; p = 0.038).
Since there are few phytochemicals that have a significant increasing effect on HDL-C levels, pycnogenol may have important role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
8Orgasmic function in male anorgasmiaSystematic Reviewn=234 · medium study2025
Pharmacological therapy with cabergoline, yohimbine, bupropion, and pycnogenol can have a positive effect on the orgasmic function of patients with primary or secondary anorgasmia.
Gómez-Bueno MP et al. · Actas urologicas espanolas (2025)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The cabergoline improved orgasm in 66% of the population and yohimbine in 55%.
Pharmacological therapy with cabergoline, yohimbine, bupropion, and pycnogenol can have a positive effect on the orgasmic function of patients with primary or secondary anorgasmia.
9Biological, nutraceutical and clinical aspects of pine bark extractSystematic Review2011
The objective of this paper is to review the current research on this extract in terms of extraction methods, its pharmacological, toxicological and nutraceutical effects and clinical studies.
Maimoona A et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2011)
Bark extract of Pinus pinaster has a long history of ethnomedicinal use and is available commercially as herbal dietary supplement with proprietary name pycnogenol.
It is used as a food supplement to overcome many degenerative disorders.
Sixty-nine research articles were extracted, relating to its clinical, biological and nutraceutical aspects.