A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Pycnogenol on Plasma Lipids

Abstract

Background: Pycnogenol, the standardized flavonoid-rich extract from the bark of French maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster Ait), has been shown to modify a number of cardiovascular risk factors. However, that Pycnogenol modulates plasma lipid levels is unclear due to the inconsistent findings. Objective: To examine the impact of Pycnogenol on lipid profile through a meta-analysis of available controlled clinical trials. Methods: Controlled trials assessing the effects of Pycnogenol on lipid parameters (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglycerides) were identified by electronic search in Medline and Scopus. Weighed mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated as effect size using random-effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity and meta-regression (for Pycnogenol dose and duration of supplementation) analyses were carried out using leave-one-out and unrestricted maximum likelihood methods, respectively. Results: A total of 7 trials comprising 442 patients (226 in the Pycnogenol and 216 in the control group) were identified. Meta-analysis did not reveal any significant effect of Pycnogenol on lipid parameters: total cholesterol: WMD: −0.03 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.34 to 0.28, P = .83; LDL-C: WMD: −0.07 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.29 to 0.15, P = .54; HDL-C: WMD: 0.00 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.04 to 0.05, P = .86; and triglycerides: WMD: 0.05 mmol/L, 95% CI: −0.12 to 0.23, P = .55. All these effect sizes were robust in sensitivity analyses. Apart from a dose–effect association for the effect of Pycnogenol on LDL-C, there was no other association between Pycnogenol dose or its duration of supplementation with changes in any of the lipid parameters. Conclusion: Current clinical evidence does not suggest any significant effect of Pycnogenol on fasting lipid profile.