Pycnogenol further benefit for diabetes

Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract with various potential benefits for diabetes patients, may also help reduce blood sugar, claims a new study by the University of Arizona, USA, published in the May edition of the journal of Nutrition Research.

A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial indicated the bark of the maritime pine from southwest France, known as pycongenol, could be useful as an adjunct to prescription medications for diabetes.

Ronald Watson, a lead researcher at the University, said "previous studies have shown pycnogenol supplimentation to be associated with reducing platelet aggregation, lowering low density lipoprotein and increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol and modifying hypertension, among others. But, what really makes the study results compelling, is pycnogenol simultaneously lowered blood glucose, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure in patients. Furthermore, this is the first study suggesting that pycnogenol might also be beneficial in protecting kidney function in diabetics."