PycnoQ10® Benefits Heart

PESCARA, ItalyA Pycnogenol®/ Kaneka coenzyme Q10 (coQ10)combination (as PycnoQ10®, distributed by Natural Health Science Inc.) improved heart failure management without side effects when stable heart failure patients took the supplement in adjunct to medical treatment, according to a new study (Panminerva Medica 2010 June;52(2 Suppl 1):21-5).  This study lends scientific credibility to heart health supplements that include PycnoQ10.

In this single-blinded, 12-week observational study, researchers from Chieti-Pescara University  found nine PycnoQ10-treated patients (out of 32) and three (out of 21) taking placebo improved stable New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications. Systolic and diastolic pressure as well as heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly lowered with PycnoQ10 (from 139.2 to 133.2 mmHg and 82.3 to 77.3 mmHg, respectively) as compared to the control group (140.3 to 139.5 mmHg and 83.4 to 81.2 mmHg) (P<0.05).

Heart rate was also significantly lowered from 78.4 to 74.2 beats per minute as compared to 79.1 to 78.4 in the control group.  There was also considerable decrease in respiratory rate in PycnoQ10 patients from 23.1 to 21.2 breaths per minute versus 23.3 to 22.3 in the control group.  Heart ejection fraction increased by 22.4 percent in the treatment group (P<0.05) versus 4.0 percent in controls.

Walking distance on treadmill increased 3.3-fold in PycnoQ10 treated patients (P<0.05), but only marginally improved in the control group. Distal edema decreased significantly in PycnoQ10-treated patients and only slightly in controls.

 The quality of life of patients also improved with PycnoQ10, as validated with the Karnofsky Index, a performance scale that rates patients according to their functional impairment.  At baseline, patients had Karnofsky values of 43 percent, which is categorized as handicapped and dependent on qualified medical help."  After treatment with PycnoQ10, the values were up to 54.7 percent, described as help and medical assistance are often required."  No significant improvement of Karnofsky Index was observed in the control group.

The distal edema (leg stiffness), expressed as the percentage of the initial volumetric value, decreased significantly to 72 percent in PycnoQ10-treated patients, but was increased by 4 percent in the control group. 

Participants in the study managed their heart failure in accordance with the American Heart Associations (AHA) guidelines for best treatment." All patients recruited had been diagnosed with heart failure with an ejection fraction lower than 40 percent of their original capacity. They had experienced a stable level of heart failure within the past three months, and NYHA class II (mild symptoms) or III (moderate symptoms) heart failure classification  for six months.

Patients were divided into two groups: one group received capsules with a combination of 15 mg Pycnogenol® and 50 mg CoQ10 from Kaneka. The second group received placebo capsules in addition to their individual prescription medications. Patients were instructed to take seven capsules, in the morning after breakfast, each day. The treatment and control groups were comparable at baseline. The mean age of the PycnoQ10-treated patients was 61.3±7.1 years and 62.1±3.7 in the control group. All patients were taking medication, and more than 75 percent of patients used three or more drugs for heart failure treatment. There were two dropouts in the PycnoQ10 treatment group and six in the control group (5 NYHA III patients).

Natural Health Science surmised PycnoQ10s ability to strengthen the heart, increasing the blood volume ejected with each beat, improves the oxygen-rich blood supply to the organs, and thus, patients become more physically energetic. 

Pycnogenol® is a registered trademark of Horphag Research Ltd., Guernsey, and its applications are protected by U.S. patents #5,720,956 / #6,372,266 and other international patents.