 Assessing
The Benefits Of Using The Pycnogenol
Antioxidant
Pycnogenol® antioxidant is a brand name for a substance
whose scientific name is proanthocyanidin.
It is one of the flavanoid family of
antioxidants and has its source in the bark of a European pine
tree. In addition, small amounts of proanthocyanidin have also
been detected in lemon tree bark and in grape and plum seeds.
Some pycnogenol supplements are in fact grape seed
extracts.
Many claims are advanced for its possible effectiveness in
treating life-threatening diseases including
Alzheimer’s, strokes,
skin diseases and senility
and its role in protecting brain tissue, but
further scientific investigation is required before these
theories can be translated into accepted scientific fact.
The advocates of using pycnogenol antioxidant base their
views on the known role of antioxidant chemicals in fighting
off the attacks on body tissue made by free radical compounds.
Both antioxidants and free radicals are naturally present in
the body.
Antioxidants are absorbed through a variety of foods,
including green vegetables, fresh fruit juices and tea while
the free radicals are created as a by-product of the oxidation
process — the metabolizing of fats and glucose that
generate essential body energy.
Environmental pollution and unhealthy living styles, for
example, smoking, also boost the amount of free radicals in the
body. When the free radical attackers overcome the defenses
formed by the antioxidants tissue becomes more prone to disease
and to the effects of natural aging.
Thus it is argued that by increasing the intake of powerful
antioxidant such as Pycnogenol these natural defenses are
strengthened with positive implications for immunity and
reducing the effects of aging.
Although vitamin C and E are amongst the best-known of all the
antioxidants Pycnogenol has been shown to be a more effective
antioxidant than either vitamin C or vitamin E, because it is
so easily absorbed in the bloodstream (absorption takes only 20
minutes) and works for up to 72 hours. Furthermore, there is
evidence that it also works together with vitamin C to improve
recycling of vitamin E within the body.
Since the qualities found in foodstuffs are so limited, the
only way of raising Pycnogenol levels is by taking the tablets
that can be bought from pharmacies or online. Taking two
30-milligram tablets each day is recommended as a long-term
healthy dosage, though a higher dosage is needed in the first
few days.
Although there is no evidence of unpleasant side-effects due
to the lack of verifiable medical evidence the use of tablets
is not recommended during pregnancy or while nursing.
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