Of Pycnogenol's four modes of action, its antioxidant function
is the most important to our health. However, our awareness of
this role is relatively new, so it is better known for its beneficial
effects on blood vessels, skin and mental function. A list of
items that Dr. Richard Passwater talks about in his book: The
New Super antioxidant Plus The Amazing Story of Pycnogenol and
Vitamin C Potentiator.
BRAIN FUNCTION
THE ARTERIOSCLEROSIS ANTIDOTE
STRESS
CANCER
ARTHRITIS
EYESIGHT
DIABETES
PCYNOGENOL'S OUTSTANDING SAFETY
ABOUT DR. RICHARD PASWATER, Ph.D.
Pycnogenol is important to brain function, not only because it protects blood vessels, but also because it is only of the few dietary antioxidants that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to protect brain cells. the blood-brain barrier protects the brain from compounds that normally circulate in the blood. Brain cells are very sensitive to some compounds, even though they many not damage other cells in the body or even be needed by other cells.
Protection of brain cells will help memory and reduce senility. There are indication that even sluggish memories are improves, perhaps due to better circulation and cell nourishment. Strokes are the result of brain cells being damaged either by not receiving blood or by excessive pressure from blood pooling in brain tissue. The former is caused by blood clots that block flow, while the latter is caused by arteries bursting or leaking.
No you can see the importance of Pycnogenol. It compounds protect
vitamin C, thus, they become the body's first line of defense
against heart disease. Other antioxidant nutrients such as beta-carotene
and selenium contribute to the defense as well. Now that Dr. White
and others have shown that the antioxidant nutrients are major
protectors against heart disease, the public can pay better attention
to the most importation factor instead of being sidetracked by
lesser ones. Most of us should be paying more attention to our
intake of antioxidant nutrients. If you are one of those affected
by cholesterol as well, then you can watch your cholesterol
and antioxidant protection both. My point is that even in
cholesterol-sensitive people, antioxidant protection is more
important than cholesterol level. Don't concentrate on the
minor problem and ignore the major factor.
The classical risk factors all together-smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol-still account for less than half of heart diseases deaths. I suggest that concentrating on the minor factors expose you to risk from the major cause of heart disease, antioxidant deficiencies. Keep in mind that Pycnogenol is an extremely safe and efficacious nutrient.
Acute hemorrhagic ulcers of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum are common today. they can result in serious gastrointestinal bleeding and death. Histamine is believed involved in the he pathogenesis of stress ulcer disease. Pycnogenol inhibits the enzyme histidine decarboxylas, and this lowers histamine levels. Because it prevents excessive histamine release, it has been shown to reduce stress ulcers in the stomach and intestine by 82 percent. this has been confirmed by Dr. Duncan Bell of Ipswich Hospital in England and reported at the 1990 International Symposium on Pycnogenol. Dr. Bell, a gastroenterologist, reported on its antistress action and how it prevents ulcer formation.
Pycnogenol also has been shown to inhibit tumor production in the skin. recent research by Dr. Stewart Brown of the University of Nottingham shows that its radical scavenging effect slows cancer mutagenesis. At the same international symposium on Pycnogenol Dr. D. White of the University of Nottingham reported that it inhibits the enzyme monooxygenase, thereby preventing the formation of highly carcinogenic diole epoxide of benzopyrene. this protection action may be very important to smokers. Tobacco smoke contains significant amounts of benzopyrene.
Several anecdotal reports claim that arthritis feel improvement overnight with a bed-time does of 120-150 milligrams of Pycnogenol. Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are inflammatory diseases. Pycnogenol may help by quenching some of the free radicals that are involved in the inflammatory process.
In the study just described, many patients also experiences improved visual acuity. Similarly, a small-scale clinical experiment designed to study diabetic retinopathy was conducts by Dr. Emilio Balestrazzi of the University of Aquila. He concluded, "the overall clinical judgment on Pycnogenol, compared with the control group treated with placebo, an taking account of all the clinical and instrumental tests and the absence of side-effects, is to be considered beneficial, in as much as all patients benefited to a varying degree from the treatment. In fact, the effects on the resistance and the peripheral capillary permeability of the vessels..."
Pycnogenol reduces vascular fragility, to which diabetics are prone. Its protective effect on capillaries extends to the fragile capillaries of the eyes. The damage to the retina caused by the microbleeding of the eye capillaries due to diabetes in one of the more common causes of blindness in adults.
Pycnogenol has been taken in Europe under medical supervision for decades with no reports of adverse effects. More than 4 million capsules and tablets are taken every day at this writing. More importantly, Pycnogenol has been tested and tested again by conventional tests of safety at expert centers including the Pasteur Institute in Lyon, France and Cytotest Cell research (CCR) in Darnstadt, Germany. Pycnogenol has been found to be nontoxic, nonteratogenic, nonmutagenic, noncarcinogenic and nonantigencic
He is one of the most called-upon authorities in preventive health care. A noted biochemist, he is credited with popularizing the term "supernutrition" with his two best-selling books Supernutrition: Megavitamin revolution and Supernutrition for Healthy Heart. His other books include Selenium as Food and Medicine, Cancer and Its Nutritional Therapies and, with Dr. Elmer M. Cranton, Trace Elements, Hair Analysis and Nutrition. Dr. Passwater has also written several works in the Good Health Guide Series in addition to this one.