ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Stomatologica 2019 December;68(6):303-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4970.19.04311-5

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Xerostomia: prevention with Pycnogenol® supplementation: a pilot study

Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2} ✉, M. Rosaria CESARONE ^{1, 2}, Umberto CORNELLI ^{1, 2}, Claudia SCIPIONE ^{1, 2}, Valeria SCIPIONE ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}, Shu HU ^{1, 2}, Beatrice FERAGALLI ^{1, 2}, Morio HOSOI ^{1, 2}, Claudia MAIONE ^{1, 2}, Roberto COTELLESE ^{1, 2}, Paola CESINARO DI ROCCO ^{1, 2}

¹ Irvine3 Labs, Department of Medical and Oral Sciences and Biotechnologies, G. d’Annunzio University, Pescara, Italy; ² International Agency for Pharma-Standard Supplements (IA-PSS), Pescara, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this pilot study was the evaluation of primary, idiopathic mucosal dryness (xerostomia or dry mouth) in subjects without cancer.
METHODS: A group of non-diabetic subjects and a group of diabetics were managed with standard management (SM) or with SM+Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day) for 2 weeks.
RESULTS: In total, 48 subjects were included in the study; 24 diabetics and 24 non-diabetics. 12 diabetics and 12 non-diabetics took Pycnogenol® and 12 diabetics and 12 non-diabetics were followed up with standard management only and served as controls. No side effects and no tolerability problems were observed with Pycnogenol®. The registry groups were comparable for characteristics and symptoms at baseline. All otherwise healthy subjects had a BMI<26 kg/m2. In 2 weeks, salivary flow and oxidative stress improved significantly in both groups of subjects (non-diabetics and diabetics) with 150 mg/day Pycnogenol® (P<0.05), while minimal improvements in salivary flow were seen with SM. The subjective score and the number of mucosal breaks and ulcerations, all minimal (<1 mm in length or diameter), were significantly decreased with Pycnogenol® supplementation (P<0.05) with minimal variations in the SM controls. Finally, the mean lysozyme level in parotid saliva samples was significantly increased in the Pycnogenol® group (P<0.05) both in diabetics and non-diabetics.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on these preliminary results, Pycnogenol® could be a new, valid option for the treatment of xerostomia.

KEY WORDS: Xerostomia; Pycnogenols; Saliva; Diabetes; Oxidative stress