According to a new clinical study, scientists discovered that type 2 diabetes patients had lower blood sugar and healthier blood vessels after supplementing with pine tree bark extract, or Pycnogenol.

The study demonstrated that patients with mild type 2 diabetes, subscribing to a regular diet and exercise program, were able to significantly lower their glucose levels when they supplemented with 50 to 200 mg of Pycnogenol.

“The favourable research results on the glucose-lowering effect of this natural extract encourages further mechanistic and clinical studies with Pycnogenol to explore its potential in obtaining metabolic control in patients with mild type 2 diabetes,” said Peter Rohdewald, PhD, of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Muenster.

According to Dr Rohdewald, this natural antioxidant also appears to be helpful in controlling an array of cardiovascular problems prevailing in diabetics. Evidence shows that Pycnogenol effectively reduces high blood pressure, platelet aggregation, LDL (bad) cholesterol and enhances circulation. Earlier studies with more than 1,000 diabetes patients showed that Pycnogenol has the ability to seal leaky capillaries in the eye. This helps stops the progression of vision loss in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes-induced eye disease that ultimately leads to blindness.

Natural Health Science Inc, Mar 18, 2004