ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2016 September;67(3):124-30

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Preservation of muscular mass and strength in aged subjects with Pycnogenol® supplementation

Gianni BELCARO ^{1, 2}, Mark DUGALL ^{1, 2}

¹ Irvine3 Labs, Chieti, Italy; ² Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, D’Annunzio University, Pescara, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is an evaluation of the effects of Pycnogenol® supplementation in a registry study in healthy aged subjects with sarcopenia, not using drugs and without any other clinical condition and risk condition.
METHODS: The registry study included 64 healthy aged subjects (age range 70-78) with symptoms of fatigue. Two resulting groups included a control group (using an exercise plan and lifestyle changes) and a second group using the same plan and Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day).
RESULTS: At start the groups were comparable. Subjects with loss of strength and apparent loss of muscular mass were included; no clinical disease was present; no other treatment was used. Significant improvements (P<0.0.5) in hand grip, weight lifts, walking distance without pain, number of stairs, in the time for feeling tired were observed in both groups due to the training. The supplementation group showed a more significant progress (P<0.05) in comparison with controls at 2 months. Proteinuria and general fitness were significantly better than values in controls at 2 months (P<0.05) with the supplementation. In the supplementation group a significant decrease in plasma oxidative stress was observed (P<0.05) in comparison with controls. Subjects using the supplement also improved their Karnofsky score (P<0.05) more than controls (who showed a minimal variation). The left ventricular ejection fraction (ultrasound) also had a significant improvement from 53.2±1.2% to 55.4±1.1% (P<0.05) with the supplement; this observations was superior (P<0.05) to the values observed in controls. Ejection fraction could be a very important parameter to evaluate, in a specific study, in more affected patients with more significant muscle loss and cardiac deterioration. There were no changes at 8 weeks in blood tests and physiological parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with Pycnogenol® improved muscular strength and the general fitness level (also decreasing oxidative stress) in otherwise healthy, older subjects with symptoms of fatigue and signs of muscle mass loss.