Aim: We investigated benefits of Pycnogenol(R) as an adjunct to hypotensive medication in metabolic syndrome patients with micro-albuminurea.
Methods: Fifty eight patients were treated with Ramipril and a subgroup received Pycnogenol in addition for six months. Colour Doppler duplex ultrasound was employed for cortical flow measurements.
Results: Blood pressure decreased with Ramipril from 188.8/95.2 to 128.2/90.2, with additional Pycnogenol from 189.3/97.2 to 122.2/85.3 (P<0.05). Kidney function improved in both groups, with 24 hour urinary albumin decreasing from 88.8 to 68.9 mg with Ramipril and from 89.3 to 42.2 mg with additional Pycnogenol (P<0.05). In both groups treatment lowered serum creatinine, with combination treatment being significantly more effective. Cortical flow velocities significantly increased with Ramipril from systolic 17.2 +/- 3.1 to 23.8 +/- 2.0 cms-1 and diastolic 4.2+/-2.8 to 2.0+/-3.1 cms-1. The addition of Pycnogenol was more effective, improving cortical flow from systolic 18.2+/-2.2 to 27.2+/-2.9 cms-1 and diastolic 4.1+/-2.2 to 9.8+/-2.1 cms-1 (P>0.05). C-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased marginally with Ramipril, but significantly with Pycnogenol from 2.17 to 1.62 mg/dL. Pycnogenol significantly lowered fasting blood glucose to 102.3 +/- 11.2 mg/mL and HbA1c to 6.9 +/- 0.3 %. The Pycnogenol group showed a significantly lowered BMI, from baseline 26.5+/-0.9 to 25.0+/-1.2 kgm-2, without reaching statistical significance versus control. Only a limited improvement of blood lipid profile was found in both groups.
Conclusion: Pycnogenol should be further investigated for kidney function.