Pycnogenol® for healthy hair and beautiful skin during menopause

A recently published double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study reveals a natural, safe and effective path for women who face hair thinning. The study, conducted with menopausal women, found oral intake of Pycnogenol to significantly increase hair density, decrease trans-epidermal water loss in scalp skin and to improve microcirculation in scalp skin. Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine bark, is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food supplement that was shown to be beneficial for health and beauty in hundreds of clinical studies.

Pycnogenol improves hair quality
According to a questionnaire in a study with peri-menopausal women, Pycnogenol reduced hair loss complaints by 43 per cent after 8 weeks.

The above mentioned study confirmed these observations in a randomized and placebo-controlled design with specific focus on Pycnogenol’s effects on hair quality and density. Seventy six healthy menopausal women between 45 and 60 years were randomly assigned to either take 150 mg Pycnogenol per day or placebo for 6 months.

Remarkably, hair density was significantly improved by 30 per cent compared to baseline and by 15 per cent compared to placebo after 2 months. The effects of Pycnogenol stayed on a highly improved level after longer supplementation.

In addition, the study showed that Pycnogenol significantly reduced water loss from the skin of subjects’ scalp, compared to the placebo group. This leads to a better regulated scalp skin moisture balance for healthier hair and scalp.The study also confirmed that Pycnogenol intake positively affects microcirculation in the skin, leading to a better supply of nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle. Pycnogenol intake for only 2 months was efficacious in improving hair and scalp health and significantly reduced hair loss in postmenopausal women.

How does Pycnogenol improve hair quality?
There are several mechanisms of action that can explain Pycnogenol’s efficacy for hair health and beauty.

Pycnogenol improves microcirculation
Healthy microcirculation is vital for maintaining good hair quality as it leads to a well-functioning supply of nutrients and oxygen to the scalp and the hair follicles. In several previously published studies, Pycnogenol was shown to improve microcirculation in small blood vessels in the body, like the very fine micro vessels in the skin, fingertips and in the inner ear or the retinal capillaries in the eye.

In a 3 months study on diabetic retinopathy, Pycnogenol supplementation improved the retinal blood flow by around 30 per cent compared to no change in the control patients. In another study with patients suffering from coronary heart disease, microcirculation on the fingertip improved significantly in 54 per cent of the patients, taking Pycnogenol and in 33 per cent of the placebo patients after 4 weeks. A third study showed improved microcirculation in the legs by 34 per cent after Pycnogenol intake, in patients with diabetic microangiopathy. In addition, Pycnogenol positively affects microcirculation in the inner ear, relieving symptoms of tinnitus .

Pycnogenol has anti-inflammatory effects
In addition, Pycnogenol protects hair follicles by capturing free radicals, generated either by stress, sun rays, pollution or inflammation. In many studies, it was shown that Pycnogenol has potent anti-inflammatory activities. Already after 5 days of daily intake, a study reported that Pycnogenol significantly prevented the up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory enzymes 5-LOX and COX-2. In another ex vivo study, plasma samples of volunteers after intake of Pycnogenol showed to statistically significantly inhibit NF-?B activation by 15.5 per cent and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) release by 25 per cent, two important regulators in the inflammation process. In a similar study, statistically significant inhibition of inflammatory molecules COX-1 and COX- 2 was observed after intake of 300 mg Pycnogenol.

Pycnogenol is a strong antioxidant
The antioxidant activity of Pycnogenol has been investigated in a number of clinical studies. Orally administered Pycnogenol has been shown to both increase the plasma antioxidant capacity, expressed as oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and decrease the plasma oxidative stress measured as plasma free radicals. Pycnogenol has further been shown to protect lipids from peroxidation by free radicals in elderly people and people with coronary artery disease. The protective effects of Pycnogenol on DNA oxidation was shown in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of children with ADHD, by measuring the level of oxidized purines.

Pycnogenol benefits skin elasticity and hydration
Further reinforcing scalp skin health, Pycnogenol strengthens the extracellular matrix by binding and thus protecting collagen and elastin as well as by stimulating the production of new collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin.

In a study with 78 subjects, who work outdoors in an urban area, the water loss of the skin during the hot summer season could be reduced by 14 per cent with Pycnogenol supplementation for 3 months and only by 5 per cent with placebo. In this placebo-controlled double-blind study, the skin elasticity was shown to be improved by 13 per cent after supplementation, compared to an increase of 1 per cent in the placebo group.

Interestingly, clinical investigations of Pycnogenol supplementation for 12 weeks with menopausal women, aged 55 to 68 years revealed increased hyaluronic acid synthase levels within the skin by 44 per cent, leading to improved skin hydration. Hyaluronic acid synthase is the natural source of water-binding hyaluronic acid in the dermis, which moisturizes the skin and keeps it taut and smooth. Consequently, an average skin-hydration increase by 21 per cent in the group of Pycnogenol supplementation was found, particularly in women presenting with dry skin prior to Pycnogenol intake. In this study, Pycnogenol was also shown to improve skin elasticity by 25 per cent and decrease skin fatigue by 30 per cent. The results were paralleled by Pycnogenol’s ability to generate skin´s connective tissue collagen in average by 40 per cent.

In addition to stimulating the synthesis of new collagen, Pycnogenol metabolites can inhibit the release and activity of destructive enzymes (metalloproteinases, which break down dermal tissue proteins, like collagen or elastin. The reduced activity of these lytic enzymes saves the connective tissues from degradation, representing the basis for maintaining an elastic, smooth and youthful looking skin.

Pycnogenol relieves menopausal symptoms
Apart from improving hair quality, Pycnogenol has been shown to be very efficient for different other conditions or disorders connected to menopause. To date, almost 500 menopausal women took part in different studies investigating the effects of Pycnogenol on climacteric symptoms.

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled 6 months study with 155 peri-menopausal women found all symptoms of the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ) to be significantly improved in the Pycnogenol supplementing subjects, as compared to placebo controls. The symptoms on the WHQ include somatic (tiredness, headache) and vasomotor problems (hot flashes, sweating), depressed mood, memory and concentration issues, attractiveness, anxiety, sexual behavior, sleep, and menstrual problems.

In another study, the symptoms of 70 women in menopausal transition were evaluated with 38 subjects being supplemented with 100 mg Pycnogenol per day for 8 weeks. The scoring system included 33 common signs and symptoms of menopausal complaints, which were improved significantly after Pycnogenol intake.
A significant efficacy of a low dosage of Pycnogenol (60 mg daily) on climacteric symptoms could be shown in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled investigation with 170 women.

Menopause is a leading risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Supplementation of peri-menopausal women with 100 mg Pycnogenol per day for 6 months was shown to normalize high blood pressure and to improve lipid profile. Cardiovascular risk factors (homocysteine and CRP values) improved significantly and plasma free radicals decreased significantly by 22 per cent. Additionally, almost all symptoms of a menopausal questionnaire with 34 items, were improved after Pycnogenol supplementation.

Conclusion
Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, is effective in improving hair quality. Supplementation with Pycnogenol is associated with increased hair density, improved scalp skin microcirculation and reduced scalp skin water loss. These effects can partly be explained by Pycnogenol’s potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and its benefits on skin elasticity and hydration. In addition, studies showed that Pycnogenol relieves the main menopausal symptoms.
For more information, visit www.pycnogenol.com.