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Pyc6.0
Pycnogenol Research
Likely helps
100 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Pycnogenol appears to help in 12 of 14 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2000–2026 with a typical study size of 430 participants.
Based on 100 studies · 21 meta-analyses · 68 RCTs · 21,279 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
12helped1unclear1didn't help· 86 more without graded effect data
24 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
200020132026
1Meta-Analysisn=3,650 · very large study2024
In plain English: 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.
4Biological, nutraceutical and clinical aspects of pine bark extractSystematic Review2011
In plain English: 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.
5Adverse eventsMeta-Analysisn=7,690 · very large study2020
In plain English: 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.
6Male anorgasmia treatmentSystematic Reviewn=234 · medium study2025
In plain English: 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.
7HDL cholesterol increaseMeta-Analysisn=1,065 · large study2019
In plain English: 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.
In plain English: 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)
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.
In plain English: Present systematic review and meta-analysis suggested Pycnogenol consumption can decrease the level of CRP and have anti-inflammatory effect.
Nikpayam O et al. · Clinical nutrition research (2018)
Five trials including 324 participants were included in this meta-analysis.
Pooled effect size showed significant effect of Pycnogenol supplementation on CRP (-1.22 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval, -2.43, -0.003; I2 = 99%, pheterogeneity < 0.001).
When the meta-analysis was subgrouped by dose of Pycnogenol, heterogeneity was attenuated in > 150 mg/d category.
In plain English: These results indicate that the combination of PAL may have a significant effect on improving sexual function in patients with mild to moderate ED.
Tian Y et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)
These results indicate that the combination of PAL may have a significant effect on improving sexual function in patients with mild to moderate ED.
This study will provide clinicians with more options for treating patients with ED.
More randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to further demonstrate the effect of combination therapy on sexual function in patients with ED.
16Glycaemic control in type 2 diabetesSystematic Review2025
In plain English: Current evidence supports the use of ginger and turmeric for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, however, given the high clinical heterogeneity and low quality of the review, our confidence in this finding is somewhat limited.
Li E et al. · BMC complementary medicine and therapies (2025)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Ginger, turmeric, and Jinlida granules significantly decreased HbA1c compared to placebo (mean differences (MD): -0.467%, -0.486%, -0.283%, respectively) with moderate to high certainty evidence.
Current evidence supports the use of ginger and turmeric for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, however, given the high clinical heterogeneity and low quality of the review, our confidence in this finding is somewhat limited.
Herbal medicines should be used only as an adjunct to conventional treatment, with shared decision-making between clinicians and patients.
18L-citrulline effect on exercise performanceMeta-Analysis2021
In plain English: Foods rich in polyphenols and nitrate provide trivial benefits for endurance exercise performance, although these effects may be food dependent.
d'Unienville NMA et al. · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2021)
Barely noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Could be chance
No effect on exercise performance following consumption of foods rich in L-citrulline was identified (SMD=-0.03, p=0.24).
Foods rich in polyphenols and nitrate provide trivial benefits for endurance exercise performance, although these effects may be food dependent.
Highly trained endurance athletes do not appear to benefit from consuming nitrate-rich foods but may benefit from polyphenol consumption.
In plain English: Currently the scientific evidence is insufficiently robust to establish definitive clinical practice guidelines, but processes could be established to track the impact of these ingredients.
Crawford C et al. · Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) (2019)
Currently the scientific evidence is insufficiently robust to establish definitive clinical practice guidelines, but processes could be established to track the impact of these ingredients.
Until then, providers have the evidence needed to make informed decisions about the safe use of these dietary ingredients, and future research can address existing gaps.
20Pain and function in osteoarthritisMeta-Analysis2018
In plain English: The overall analysis including all trials showed that supplements provided moderate and clinically meaningful treatment effects on pain and function in patients with hand, hip or knee osteoarthritis at short term, although the quality of evidence was very low.
Liu X et al. · British journal of sports medicine (2018)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Another six (undenatured type II collagen, avocado soybean unsaponifiables, methylsulfonylmethane, diacerein, glucosamine and chondroitin) revealed statistically significant improvements on pain, but were of unclear clinical importance.
Chondroitin demonstrated statistically significant, but not clinically important structural improvement (effect size -0.30, -0.42 to -0.17).
The overall analysis including all trials showed that supplements provided moderate and clinically meaningful treatment effects on pain and function in patients with hand, hip or knee osteoarthritis at short term, although the quality of evidence was very low.