Does Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, improve endothelial function and reduce the need for antihypertensive medication in patients with hypertension?
Pycnogenol Pine Bark Extract, a double-blind trial in 58 patients (Life Sci 2004, PMID 14659974) — nitric oxide levels increased in both groups but not significantly, and angiotensin II concentrations were lowered more in the placebo group. Scope: 58 patients, over 12 weeks, and the abstract states no limitations.
Source: Life Sci 2004, PMID 14659974 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: low
Life Sci · 2004 · PMID 14659974 · DOI 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.037
Pycnogenol supplementation may help reduce the required dose of blood pressure medication and improve endothelial function in mildly hypertensive patients.
The question
Does Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, improve endothelial function and reduce the need for antihypertensive medication in patients with hypertension?
What they tested
The study hypothesized that Pycnogenol supplementation would improve endothelial function and allow for a reduction in the dose of calcium antagonist medication in hypertensive patients.
How they did it
A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was conducted with 58 patients diagnosed with hypertension. Patients received either 100 mg of Pycnogenol or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Endothelial function markers (endothelin-1, 6-keto prostaglandin F1a, nitric oxide, angiotensin II) and the required dose of nifedipine were measured.
What they found
Pycnogenol supplementation significantly reduced the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine. Endothelin-1 concentrations significantly decreased in the Pycnogenol group compared to placebo, while 6-keto prostaglandin F1a concentrations were significantly higher. Nitric oxide levels increased in both groups but not significantly, and angiotensin II concentrations were lowered more in the placebo group. Heart rate, electrolytes, and blood urea nitrogen remained unchanged in both groups. Mild and transient side effects were observed in both groups, with no significant difference in their rates.
What it means
Supplementation with Pycnogenol may be beneficial for mildly hypertensive patients, as it helped reduce the dose of nifedipine and improved certain markers of endothelial function.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations beyond the observed side effects being mild and transient, and the non-significant changes in nitric oxide and angiotensin II.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients |
|---|---|
| Journal | Life Sci |
| Year | 2004 |
| PMID | 14659974 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.037 ↗ |
| Topic | Cardiovascular & vascular aging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Pycnogenol Pine Bark Extract
In human trials, Pycnogenol has improved flow-mediated dilation and other measures of endothelial function in people with coronary artery disease and hypertension, and a meta-analysis of 12 trials reports modest reductions in blood pressure (about 3 mmHg systolic and 2 diastolic), though the effects are often small…
Pycnogenol is a standardized extract of the bark of the French maritime pine (Pinus pinaster ssp…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, improve endothelial function and reduce the need for antihypertensive medication in patients with hypertension? [Plain-English summary of Life Sci 2004, PMID 14659974, DOI 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.037]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d14659974.html@misc{magellan_d14659974,
title = {Does Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, improve endothelial function and reduce the need for antihypertensive medication in patients with hypertension?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d14659974.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 14659974; DOI 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.037; Life Sci 2004. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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