Pycnogenol

A Superior AntiOxidant

I had been using Pycnogenol supplements and a topical cream for a couple of weeks, when I read your Top Seven Anti-aging Developments of 2007 article.

I saw on the internet that Pyc was 50 times more effective as an antioxidant than vitamin E and 20 times more effective than vitamin C in in vitro studies, but now I'm wondering if I should switch from Pyc to Coffeeberry.

I don't think I need both, and I don't know that much about Coffeeberry, but want to use the most powerful and beneficial of the two.

I am 49 years old, and have wrinkles around the eyes and corner of my mouth, and am also noticing the start of sagging skin.

I'm currently using a 30% glycolic acid peel at home, and sunscreen, but need a good, effective antioxidant.

Thanks for your help,

Amy

How AntiOxidants Work

That's a difficult question.

To say that Pycnogenol is 50 times more effective than vitamin E and 20 times more effective than vitamin C does not give a complete picture.

What's important is not the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value of the antioxidant supplement itself, but the ORAC value derived from human blood or urine after ingestion.

In the case of topical antioxidants, the proof is in the measurement of differences in the skin with and without antioxidant application.

In other words the antioxidant must be bioavailable to the human body.

In vitro measurement of the compound itself doesn't tell you that.

For supplements, you need to know whether the ORAC score was taken from blood or urine samples after ingestion.

I would wager that most supplement labels state the ORAC value of the compound itself.

Further, USDA ORAC values for various foods are stated based on a 100 gram portion (approximately 3 ½ oz.).

When you look at an antioxidant supplement label which contains its ORAC score, it most likely is based on the stated portion size (for example 2 pills).

If you want to compare your antioxidant supplements to antioxidant-rich foods or to each other you need to convert label values to the same size.

Finally, different ingested antioxidants are effective in different parts of the body.

For example, proanthocyanidins, like Pycnogenol and Grape Seed Extract, help promote tissue elasticity, help heal injuries, reduce swelling and edema, restore collagen and improve peripheral circulation; whereas cathechins such as Green Tea Extract have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, lower LDL cholesterol levels, help the body fight infection and restore impaired immune function.

Coenzyme Q10, on the other hand, alleviates angina, reduces blood pressure, helps burn off fat, boosts energy levels, reduces the risk of certain cancers and preserves the antioxidant power of vitamin C.

Alpha Lipoic Acid helps steady blood sugar levels, helps convert food into energy, regulates vitamin C and E levels to keep the supply constant, improves insulin function and protects DNA.

The action and interaction of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes are very complex. Our bodies maintain a system of multiple food-derived antioxidants to cancel out each other's negative effects.

After a while, many antioxidants themselves turn oxidative. These spent antioxidants need to be absorbed by other antioxidants or dissolved by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxide.

So you see, the ORAC score is only part of the picture and needs to be interpreted carefully. It should not be the sole criterion used to select your antioxidant supplement(s).

The combined antioxidants found in foods have greater protective power than single antioxidants in pill form but the majority of us don't get enough of these vital compounds in our daily diet.

If you want to boost your antioxidant intake from foods by taking supplements, be sure to include more than one type or a combination pill.

This Maximum Antioxidant Formula is one I can recommend.

It contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, Selenium, Co Q-10, PycnogenolR, and 16 other ingredients that include Green Tea Extract and a Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex.

(Read about Grape Seed Extract compared to Pycnogenol below.)

Pycnogenol Supplements

Pycnogenol is a trademarked standardized extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. It is an excellent source of one of the most potent antioxidants, the proanthocyanidins.

Taken orally, proanthocyanidins prevent bruising, strengthen weak blood vessels, protect against atherosclerosis and sunburn, and reduce histamine production.

Pycnogenol is clearly a powerful antioxidant.

Dr. Kenny Jialal at the University of Texas conducted a clinical study with 45 volunteers to measure antioxidant capacity (ORAC) in the blood following supplementation with Pycnogenol.

Subjects took 150 milligrams of Pycnogenol a day for 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken after three and six weeks and then again four weeks after ceasing to take the supplement.

The results were impressive. While taking Pycnogenol, antioxidant capacity increased an average of 40% (both at three and at six weeks). When measured four weeks after cessation, the ORAC scores were back where they started.

However, you might be interested to know that Grape Seed Extract is a more concentrated source of proanthocyanidins at 95% and is more affordable.

Here is more information about antioxidants.

If it is the proanthocyanidins that you are specifically interested in, Life Extension High ORAC is probably one of the best supplements you will find.

Here is information on Coffeeberry supplements.

Topical Pycnogenol Antioxidants

Research has shown that proanthocyanidins, such as are found in Pycnogenol, promote tissue elasticity, help heal injuries, reduce swelling and edema, restore collagen and are major free radical scavengers.

The proanthocyandins possess up to 50 times more antioxidant activity than Vitamins C and E, beta carotene or selenium as measured by in vitro tests of the compounds. However there is evidence that topical Pycnogenol is bioavailable (at least on mouse skin).

In a study conducted at the University of Sydney and reported in the Feb. 2004 Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, hairless mice were exposed to UV radiation.

When the mice were treated with topical Pycnogenol before exposure, inflammation and sunburn were significantly reduced. The study used concentrations from 0.05% to 0.2% to determine that the benefit is dose-dependent.

The higher the concentration, the more protection the mice received.

Topical Pycnogenol can be found in Derma e Pycnogenol Moisturizing Crème.

Here is more information on Coffeeberry topical treatments.

This article is for information only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.