ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Panminerva Medica 2014 December;56(4):301-8

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Improvement of common cold with Pycnogenol®: a Winter registry study

Belcaro G. ¹, Shu H. ¹, Luzzi R. ², Dugall M. ¹, Ippolito E. ³, Cesarone M. R. ¹, Corsi M. ¹, Feragalli B. ¹ ✉

¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Irvine3 Circulation Vascular Labs and San Val. Epidemiology, Chieti‑Pescara University, Pescara, Italy; ² IRVINE3, Cambridge, UK; ³ University of Milan, Milan, Italy

AIM: This registry study aimed to evaluate the use of Pycnogenol® (pine bark extract), an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-edema natural compound, on symptoms of common cold. Main targets were the evaluation in otherwise healthy subjects of signs/symptoms, the reduction in days of disease, and the prevention of complications.
METHODS: All subjects used the “best management” for colds and one group added Pycnogenol® capsules (50 mg, bid/die) from day zero. The resulting registry groups were comparable. A total of 70 subjects used Pycnogenol® and 76 acted as controls.
RESULTS: The number of days with a perceived cold affecting the patients was reduced in the supplement group (3.1;0.4 days) in comparison with controls (4.2;0.2). Lost working days were significantly decreased in the supplement group (0.55;0.3 versus 0.67;0.3 in controls). The need to use any other compound (on demand basis; OTC products) to manage symptoms and the occurrence of any clinically significant complications were significantly lower in the Pycnogenol® group. The most frequent complications were the extension of the cold to a period longer than 4 days, a tracheal extension and a bronchial involvement. Pycnogenol® was significantly effective in reducing the number of complications. The daily evolution of the “pillar cold signs” indicates a significantly faster resolution in the supplement group. With supplementation the decrease in symptom scores appears to be significantly more important. Pycnogenol® supplementation appears to make regression faster for all symptoms in comparison with controls.
CONCLUSION: In this pilot registry, Pycnogenol® appears to decrease symptoms of cold and shorten its course also preventing some complications.