Pycnogenol Reduces Menstrual Pains

KANAZAWA, Ishikawa—In a recent study, French pine bark extract (as Pycnogenol) significantly lowered pain scores menstruation in women with dysmenorrhea (J Reprod Med. 2008;53:338-46). The study assessed 116 women, aged 18 to 48 years old, assigned to either a group with low menstrual pain or a group with dysmenorrhea. The first two menstrual cycles served as a control period; during the subsequent two menstrual cycles women received either 60 mg/d of a Pycnogenol supplement or a placebo in identical capsule form. The criterion for assignment to the low menstrual group was absence of analgesic medication.

In women with low menstrual pain, no significant difference for lowering of pain scores was found. In contrast, women with dysmenorrhea had a significantly lower pain score and required statistically significantly less analgesic medication during supplementation with Pycnogenol. The number of days during which women required analgesic medication was likewise found to be statistically significantly lowered in the Pycnogenol group. Even after discontinuation of Pycnogenol supplementation, the required analgesic medication remained significantly decreased. Researchers concluded the analgesic-sparing effect of Pycnogenol increases with duration of supplementation and benefits persist even after discontinuation.