ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Endocrinologica 2019 June;44(2):199-204

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1977.18.02821-3

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Pycnogenol® prevents oxidative stress and side effects in patients with hypothyroidism during levothyroxine treatment

Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2} ✉, Umberto CORNELLI ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}, Roberto COTELLESE ^{1, 2}, Beatrice FERAGALLI ^{1, 2}, Maria R. CESARONE ^{1, 2}

¹ IRVINE3 Labs, Chieti-Pescara University, Chieti, Italy; ² International Agency for Pharma Standard Supplements (IAPPS), Chieti, Italy

BACKGROUND: In this study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol® supplementation in controlling oxidative stress levels and in reducing the frequency and severity of side effects of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment in patients who had recently started this therapy.
METHODS: The registry included 60 females affected by primary hypothyroidism with multi-nodular goiter. LT4 was administered at the dosage of 100 μg/day.The registry study included only subjects under initial treatment, and followed up for a period of at least 30 days. A group took 150 mg Pycnogenol® daily and another served as control.
RESULTS: The global occurrence of symptoms during the 30-day period was significantly lower with the supplement (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Pycnogenol® may represent a useful tool to reduce LT4- related side effects in patients treated with hormone replacement therapy for hypothyroidism.

KEY WORDS: Oxidative stress - Hypothyroidism - Thyroxine - Pycnogenol®