1: J Med Food. 2001 Winter;4(4):201-209.  Related Articles, Links  

Pycnogenol((R)) in the Management of Asthma.

Hosseini S, Pishnamazi S, Sadrzadeh SM, Farid F, Farid R, Watson RR.

College of Public Health and School of Medicine, The University of Arizona,
1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724.

Asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammatory process. Pycnogenol((R)), a
bioflavonoid mixture extracted from Pinus maritima, is known to scavenge free
radicals while possessing antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of this agent in a
randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study in patients
with varying asthma severity. Twenty-six patients who fulfilled the American
Thoracic Society criteria for asthma were enrolled in the study. Medical
history, physical examination, blood sample analyses, and spirometric values
were obtained at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. The patients were randomly
assigned to receive either 1 mg/lb/day (maximum 200 mg/day) Pycnogenol or
placebo for the first period of 4 weeks and then crossed over to the alternate
regimen for the next 4 weeks. No adverse effects were observed related to the
study drug. Within the contingent of 22 patients who completed the study,
almost all responded favorably to Pycnogenol in contrast to placebo. Pycnogenol
treatment also significantly reduced serum leukotrienes compared with placebo.
The results of this pilot study indicate that Pycnogenol may be a valuable
nutraceutical in the management of chronic asthma. We recommend that further
clinical trials be conducted in larger groups of asthmatics to establish its
efficacy.

PMID: 12639402 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Correct. I would point out that at least one of the authors (Bielory) is an
allergist who treats asthma. He briefly reviewed the literature in favor of
using grapeseed extract (and a little against) in a variety of conditions
and basic experiments and did not mention asthma. Since that is his area of
clinical interest* one would assume he would have been aware of it and would
have mentioned it if there was any.

I think c) is clearly not the case since at the very least taking it orally
would send it to the respiratory system along with everywhere else.

If b) was the case in any large convincing study I think he may have
mentioned that was well. Although he did seem to be allowed just one page of
space so a complete review of all the negative studies may have been beyond
the scope of his editorial.

A) would seem to be the most likely possibility. Asthma studies are fairly
complex things to do and most of the research has been fairly basic.

Quite possibly, yes. But it is not obvious that any particular chemical with
in vitro anti-oxidant effects will have clinically significant in  vivo
effects.

--
CBI, MD

* Dr. Bielory is an old med school professor of mine that I was fairly well
acquainted with. For the most part he is a fairly regular "mainstream" kind
of guy - certainly not a kook. He is a clinician that does actively treat
allergies and asthma in addition to doing research.