Comparative study of Venostasin� and Pycnogenol� in chronic venous insufficiency

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Venostasin (horse chestnut seed extract) and Pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). In an open, controlled comparative study 40 patients with diagnosed CVI were treated either with 600 mg chestnut seed extract per day or 360 mg Pycnogenol per day over a period of 4 weeks. The following parameters were investigated before the start of treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment: circumference of the lower legs and rating of subjective symptoms (scores) of pain, cramps, night-time swelling, feeling of "heaviness", and reddening of the skin. In addition, blood levels of cholesterol LDL and HDL were determined before and at the end of treatment. Pycnogenol significantly reduced the circumference of the lower limbs and significantly improved subjective symptoms. Furthermore, Pycnogenol significantly decreased cholesterol and LDL values in the blood, whereas HDL remained unaffected. Venostasin only moderately but not significantly, reduced the circumference of the lower limbs and marginally improved symptoms. Venostasin had no influence on the determined lipid values. Both medications were equally well tolerated. In conclusion, Pycnogenol was found to be more efficacious than Venostasin for the treatment of CVI.

Improvement of erectile function with Prelox: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

“…26 The slight lowering of cholesterol, observed in this study as well as in clinical trials with Pycnogenol, may contribute to an anti-atherosclerotic effect. 6,27,28 All other parameters of routine clinical chemistry remained in the normal range. The small, but significant increase in the number of erythrocytes and in the concentrations of albumin and hemoglobin remained well within the reference ranges for male adults.…”

Plantes et vieillissement, données actuelles*

“…Il entraîne aussi une amélioration significative de la rougeur de la peau. Ces résultats démontrent donc clairement que le Pycnogenol® renforce les capillaires et augmente le tonus veineux [3,52,73,82].…”

Pycnogenol® treatment of acute hemorrhoidal episodes

“…In studies for venous insuffi ciency, Pycnogenol ® was demonstrated to be superior to other bioactive fl avonoid species, such as horsechestnut seed extract Venostasin, Troxerutin and Dafl on (Koch, 2002;Riccione et al, 2004;Cesarone et al, 2006b). This may explain the good effi cacy we found with Pycnogenol ® for the treatment of acute hemorrhoids.…”