title: White Rice Consumption and CVD Risk Factors among Iranian Population A comparative study of the effect of green tea and sour tea on blood pressure and lipid profile in healthy adult men Supplementation with a pine bark extract rich in polyphenols increases plasma antioxidant capacity and alters the plasma lipoprotein profile HDL-cholesterol-raising effect of orange juice in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. No beneficial effects of pine bark extract on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Comparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiency. Effects of Pycnogenol on endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Improvement of Diabetic Microangiopathy With Pycnogenol®: A Prospective, Controlled Study Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementation. Pycnogenol®, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Augments Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Humans Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients. Normalization of cardiovascular risk factors in peri-menopausal women with Pycnogenol®. Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II. Kidney Flow and Function in Hypertension: Protective Effects of Pycnogenol in Hypertensive Participants—A Controlled Study An examination of the effects of the antioxidant Pycnogenol® on cognitive performance, serum lipid profile, endocrinological and oxidative stress biomarkers in an elderly population Effects of low molecular weight procyanidin rich extract from french maritime pine bark on cardiovascular disease risk factors in stage-1 hypertensive subjects: Randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled intervention trial.
abstract: Association between white rice intake and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases remained uncertain . Most of the previous published studies have been done in western countries with different lifestyles , and scant data are available from the Middle East region , including Iran . This cross-sectional study was conducted in the structure of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program ( IHHP ) to assess the association between white rice consumption and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases . In the present study , 3,006 men were included from three counties of Isfahan , Najafabad , and Arak by multistage cluster r and om-sampling method .  Dietary intake was assessed with a 49-item food frequency question naire ( FFQ ) . Laboratory assessment was done in a st and ardized central laboratory . Outcome variables were fasting blood glucose , serum lipid levels , and anthropometric variables . Socioeconomic and demographic data , physical activity , and body mass index ( BMI ) were considered covariates and were adjusted in analysis . In this study , Student 's t-test , chi-square test , and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses . Means of BMI among those subjects who consumed white rice less than 7 times per week and people who consumed 7 - 14 times per week were almost similar—24.8±4.3 vs 24.5±4.7 kg/m2 . There was no significant association between white rice  consumption and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases , such as fasting blood sugar and serum lipid profiles . Although whole grain consumption has undeniable effect on preventing cardiovascular disease risk , white rice consumption was not associated with cardiovascular risks among Iranian men in the present study . Further prospect i ve studies with a semi-quantitative FFQ or dietary record question naire , representing type and portion-size of rice intake as well as cooking methods and other foods consumed with rice that affect glycaemic index ( GI ) of rice , are required to support our finding and to illustrate the probable mechanism BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases ( CVD ) are a set of metabolic disorders affecting heart and blood vessels . Green tea and sour tea ( Hibiscus sabdariffa L. ) have attracted significant attention recently due to their high popularity , nutrient profile and therapeutic effects . The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of green tea and sour tea supplementation on blood pressure and lipid profile in healthy adult men . METHODS This r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial included 54 healthy adult men . The participants were r and omly assigned to two intervention groups receiving 450 mg green tea or sour tea and one placebo group which consumed 450 mg placebo ( maltodextrin ) for 6 weeks . Blood pressure , lipid profile , dietary intake and physical activity were measured pre- and post-intervention and compared . RESULTS After 6 weeks of intervention , sour tea supplementation led to a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) compared with the placebo group . However , we faild to find any significant difference in SBP between green tea and control groups . Also , no significant changes were observed in diastolic blood pressure ( DBP ) and lipid profile between the three groups . In comparison with baseline , there was a significant increase in the mean level of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) in green tea and sour tea groups . Also , the interventions result ed in significant decrease in the mean levels of serum total cholesterol ( TC ) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) and DBP in the sour tea group compared with the pre-intervention value . CONCLUSION On the basis of our findings , sour tea supplementation led to decreased SBP  in healthy men compared with the placebo , but there was no significant difference between their effects on DBP and lipid profile Pycnogenol ® ( PYC ) , an extract of French maritime pine bark ( Pinus pinaster ) , is a potent antioxidant with potential health benefits . Its bioavailabilty has previously been shown by urinary excretion studies of constituents and metabolites of PYC . The aim of this study was to test the effect of PYC supplementation on measures of oxidative stress and the lipid profile in humans . Twenty-five healthy subjects received  PYC  ( 150 mg/d ) for 6 wk . Fasting blood was collected at baseline , after 3 and 6 wk of supplementation , and again after a 4-wk washout period . After 6 wk of supplementation with PYC , a significant increase in plasma polyphenol levels was detectable , which was reversed after the 4-wk washout phase . The antioxidant effect of PYC was demonstrated by a significant increase in oxygen radical absorbance capacity ( ORAC ) in plasma throughout the supplementation period ( P<0.05 ) . The ORAC value returned to baseline after the 4-wk washout period . Moreover , in addition to its antioxidant effects  , PYC significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol levels and increased HDL-cholesterol levels in plasma of two-thirds of the subjects . While the LDL changes reversed during washout , the HDL increase did not . There was no significant difference in LDL oxidizability or plasma lipid peroxides following PYC supplementation . Hence , following oral supplementation in humans  , PYC significantly increases antioxidant capacity of plasma , as determined by ORAC , and exerts favorable effects on the lipid profile BACKGROUND Orange juice-a rich source of vitamin C , folate , and flavonoids such as hesperidin-induces hypocholesterolemic responses in animals . OBJECTIVE We determined whether orange juice beneficially altered blood lipids in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia . DESIGN The sample consisted of 16 healthy men and 9 healthy women with elevated plasma total and LDL-cholesterol and normal plasma triacylglycerol concentrations . Participants incorporated 1 , 2 , or 3 cups ( 250 mL each ) of orange juice sequentially into their diets , each dose over a period of 4 wk . This was followed by a 5-wk washout period . Plasma lipid , folate , homocyst(e)ine , and vitamin C ( a compliance marker ) concentrations were measured at baseline , after each treatment , and after the washout period . RESULTS Consumption of 750 mL but not of 250 or 500 mL orange juice daily increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 21 % ( P : < 0.001 ) , triacylglycerol concentrations by 30 % ( from 1.56 + /- 0.72 to 2.03 + /- 0.91 mmol/L ; P : < 0.02 ) , and folate concentrations by 18 % ( P : < 0.01 ) ; decreased the LDL-HDL cholesterol ratio by 16 % ( P : < 0.005 ) ; and did not affect homocyst(e)ine concentrations . Plasma vitamin C concentrations increased significantly during each dietary period ( 2.1 , 3.1 , and 3.8 times , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Orange juice ( 750 mL/d ) improved blood lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic subjects , confirming recommendations to consume > /=5 - 10 servings of fruit and vegetables daily BACKGROUND Although modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors are common , some patients eschew conventional drug treatments in favor of natural alternatives . Pine bark extract , a dietary supplement source of antioxidant oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes , has multiple putative cardiovascular benefits . Studies published to date about the supplement have notable method ological limitations . METHODS We r and omized 130 individuals with increased cardiovascular disease risk to take 200 mg of a water-based extract of pine bark  ( n = 64 ; Toyo-FVG , Toyo Bio-Pharma , Torrance , California ; Shinyaku Co , Ltd , Saga , Japan ; also marketed as Flavagenol in Japan ) or placebo ( n = 66 ) once per day . Blood pressure , our primary outcome , and other cardiovascular disease risk factors were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks . Statistical analyses were conducted using regression models . RESULTS Baseline characteristics did not differ between the study groups . Over the 12-week intervention , the sum of systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by 1.0 mm Hg ( 95 % confidence interval , -4.2 to 2.1 mm Hg ) in the pine bark extract-treated group and by 1.9 mm Hg ( -5.5 to 1.7 mm Hg ) in the placebo group ( P = .87 ) . Other outcomes were likewise not significantly different , including body mass index , lipid panel measures , liver transaminase test results , lipoprotein cholesterol particle size , and levels of insulin , lipoprotein(a ) , fasting glucose , and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein . There were no subgroups for whom intake of pine bark extract affected cardiovascular disease risk factors . CONCLUSIONS This pine bark extract ( at a dosage of 200 mg/d ) was safe but was not associated with improvement in cardiovascular disease risk factors . Although variations among participants , dosages , and chemical preparations could contribute to different findings compared with past studies , our results are consistent with a general failure of antioxidants to demonstrate cardiovascular benefits . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00425945 The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Venostasin ( horse chestnut seed extract ) and Pycnogenol ( French maritime pine bark extract ) in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency ( CVI ) . In an open , controlled comparative study 40 patients with diagnosed CVI were treated either with 600 mg chestnut seed extract per day or 360 mg Pycnogenol per day over a period of 4 weeks . The following parameters were investigated before the start of treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment : circumference of the lower legs and rating of subjective symptoms ( scores ) of pain , cramps , night-time swelling , feeling of " heaviness " , and reddening of the skin . In addition , blood levels of cholesterol LDL and HDL were determined before and at the end of treatment . Pycnogenol significantly reduced the circumference of the lower limbs and significantly improved subjective symptoms . Furthermore , Pycnogenol significantly decreased cholesterol and LDL values in the blood , whereas HDL remained unaffected . Venostasin only moderately but not significantly , reduced the circumference of the lower limbs and marginally improved symptoms .  Venostasin had no influence on the determined lipid values . Both medications were equally well tolerated . In conclusion , Pycnogenol was found to be more efficacious than Venostasin for the treatment of CVI AIMS Extracts from pine tree bark containing a variety of flavonoids have been used in traditional medicine . Pycnogenol is a proprietary bark extract of the French maritime pine tree ( Pinus pinaster ssp . atlantica ) that exerts antioxidative , anti-inflammatory , and anti-platelet effects . However , the effects of Pycnogenol on endothelial dysfunction , a precursor of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events , remain still elusive . METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-three patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) completed this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled cross-over study . Patients received Pycnogenol ( 200 mg/day ) for 8 weeks followed by placebo or vice versa on top of st and ard cardiovascular therapy . Between the two treatment periods , a 2-week washout period was scheduled . At baseline and after each treatment period , endothelial function , non-invasively assessed by flow-mediated dilatation ( FMD ) of the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound , biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation , platelet adhesion , and 24 h blood pressure monitoring were evaluated . In CAD  patients , Pycnogenol treatment was associated with an improvement of FMD from 5.3 ± 2.6 to 7.0 ± 3.1 ( P < 0.0001 ) , while no change was observed with placebo ( 5.4 ± 2.4 to 4.7 ± 2.0 ; P = 0.051 ) . This difference between study groups was significant [ estimated treatment effect 2.75 ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 1.75 , 3.75 , P < 0.0001 ] . 15-F(2t)-Isoprostane , an index of oxidative stress , significantly decreased from 0.71 ± 0.09 to 0.66 ± 0.13 after Pycnogenol treatment , while no change was observed in the placebo group ( mean difference 0.06 pg/mL with an associated 95 % CI ( 0.01 , 0.11 ) , P = 0.012 ] . Inflammation markers , platelet adhesion , and blood pressure did not change after treatment with Pycnogenol or placebo . CONCLUSION This study provides the first evidence that the antioxidant Pycnogenol improves endothelial function in patients with CAD by reducing oxidative stress The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of oral Pycnogenol ® ( Horphag Research Ltd , United Kingdom ) in patients with diabetic microangiopathy . Patients without a history of diabetic ulcerations were treated with Pycnogenol . Patients received oral Pycnogenol ( 50 mg capsules , 3 times daily for a total of 150 mg daily for 4 weeks ) . A group of 30 patients was included ( severe microangiopathy ) ; 30 comparable patients were observed as controls ( no treatment during the observation period ) . All patients ( age , 59 years ; range , 55 - 68 years ; male : female = 18:12 ) included in the treatment group completed the 4-week study . Also , all controls completed the follow-up period . There were no drop-outs . All included subjects had signs and symptoms of diabetic microangiopathy . The duration of diabetes — from the first signs/symptoms — was on average 7.5 years ( SD = 3 ) . After 4 weeks , microcirculatory and clinical evaluations showed a progressive decrease in skin flux at rest in the foot ( indicating an improvement in the level of microangiopathy ) , a significant decrease in capillary filtration , and a significant improvement in the venoarteriolar response in all treated subjects . There were no visible effects in controls except a slight reduction in skin flux at rest in the foot . Treatment was well tolerated in both groups . In conclusion , this study confirms the clinical efficacy of Pycnogenol in patients with diabetic microangiopathy . The study indicates the clinical role of Pycnogenol in the management , treatment , and control of this common clinical problem . The treatment may be also useful to prevent diabetic ulcerations by controlling the level of microangiopathy Patients with type 2 diabetes are at considerable risk of excessive morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . We investigated the clinical effectiveness of Pycnogenol , a flavonoid-rich dietary supplement , in reducing antihypertensive medication use and CVD risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes . Forty-eight individuals were enrolled in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial with parallel-group design . Patients were diagnosed with both type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate hypertension and were undergoing treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ) inhibitors .  Subjects were r and omly assigned to receive either Pycnogenol pill ( 125 mg daily ) or matched placebo for 12 weeks . According to the values of blood pressure ( BP ) measured at 2-week intervals , the pretrial ACE inhibitor dosage was left unchanged , reduced by 50 % , or brought back to the pretrial dosage until a stable BP was obtained . Fasting plasma glucose , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol , glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) , serum endothelin-1 , and urinary albumin were evaluated monthly . Pycnogenol treatment achieved BP control in 58.3 % of subjects at the end of the 12 weeks with 50 % reduction in individual pretrial dose of ACE-inhibitors ( P < .05 ) . Plasma endothelin-1 decreased by 3.9 pg/mL in Pycnogenol-treated group vs 0.5 pg/mL increase in control group ( P < .001 ) . Mean HbA1c dropped by 0.8 % in Pycnogenol-treated group ( P < .05 ) , whereas it decreased by 0.1 % in control group . Fasting plasma glucose declined by 23.7 mg/dL in Pycnogenol-treated group vs 5.7 mg/dL in control group ( P < .0001 ) . Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol improved significantly in Pycnogenol-treated group , declining by 12.7 mg/dL ( P < .001 ) . A significant decrease in urinary albumin level was observed at week 8 compared with the control group ( P < .05 ) . However , this reduction was not significant at 12th week . After 12 weeks of supplementation , Pycnogenol result ed in improved diabetes control , lowered CVD risk factors , and reduced antihypertensive medicine use vs controls Pycnogenol ® , an extract of bark from the French maritime pine , Pinus pinaster Ait . , consists of a concentrate of water-soluble polyphenols . Pycnogenol ® contains the bioflavonoids catechin and taxifolin as well as phenolcarbonic acids . Antioxidants , such as bioflavonoids , enhance endothelial nitric oxide ( NO ) synthase expression and subsequent NO release from endothelial cells . The purpose of this study was to determine Pycnogenol ® 's effects on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans . This was a double-blind , r and omized , placebo and active drug study . We evaluated forearm blood flow ( FBF ) responses to acetylcholine ( ACh ) , an endothelium-dependent vasodilator , and to sodium nitroprusside ( SNP ) , an endothelium-independent vasodilator , in healthy young men before and after 2 weeks of daily oral administration of Pycnogenol ® ( 180 mg/day ) ( n=8 ) or placebo ( n=8 ) . FBF was measured by using strain-gauge plethysmography . Neither the placebo nor Pycnogenol ® altered forearm or systemic hemodynamics  . Pycnogenol ® , but not placebo , augmented FBF response to ACh , from 13.1±7.0 to 18.5±4.0 mL/min per 100 mL tissue ( p<0.05 ) . SNP-stimulated vasodilation was similar before and after 2 weeks of treatment in the control and Pycnogenol ® groups . The administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine , an NO synthase inhibitor , completely abolished Pycnogenol ® -induced augmentation of the FBF response to ACh . These findings suggest that Pycnogenol ® augments endothelium-dependent vasodilation by increasing in NO production  . Pycnogenol ® would be useful for treating various diseases whose pathogeneses involve endothelial dysfunction A placebo-controlled , double-blind , parallel group study was performed with 58 patients to investigate effects of French maritime pine bark extract , Pycnogenol  , on patients with hypertension . Supplementation of the patients with 100 mg Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks helped to reduce the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine in a statistically significant manner . The intake of Pycnogenol decreased endothelin-1 concentrations significantly compared to placebo while concentrations of 6-keto prostagl and in F1a in plasma were significantly higher compared to placebo .  Values for nitric oxide ( NO ) in plasma increased in both groups , but the differences were not significant . Angiotensin II concentrations in plasma were lowered in the placebo group to a larger extent than in the Pycnogenol group . Heart rate , electrolytes and blood urea nitrogen were not changed during treatment in both groups of patients . Unwanted effects observed in both groups were of mild and transient nature , such as gastrointestinal problems , vertigo , headache and nausea . Differences in rate of side effects were not statistically significant between the two groups . Study results support a supplementation with Pycnogenol for mildly hypertensive patients BACKGROUND The aim of the study was the evaluation of the efficacy of Pycnogenol ® in peri-menopausal women in controlling homocysteine and C-reactive protein ( CRP ) levels , borderline cardiovascular risk factors , oxidative stress ( OS ) and symptoms associated to menopausal transition ( MT ) . METHODS Pycnogenol ® , 100mg/day , was used as a supplement for 8 weeks by a group of 35 women . A comparable group of 35 women with identical cardiovascular risk factors was included as the control group . All women were instructed to participate in a best management plan of menopause . RESULTS The two groups were comparable . All women completed the eight weeks study . Only minor deviations from the best management plan were observed . At inclusion , both groups were similar in respect to risk factors . Supplementation with Pycnogenol ® decreased the slightly elevated cholesterol and triglycerides after 8 weeks ( P<0.05 ) . Also the fasting glucose levels were normalized ( P<0.05 ) . The borderline increased blood pressure was reduced to normal values at 8 weeks ( P<0.05 ) . Plasma free radicals dropped significantly by 22 % ( P<0.05 ) . Homocysteine and CRP levels decreased sharply by 43 % and 60 % , respectively ( P<0.05 ) . No significant changes of these risk factors were noted in the control group . Almost all menopausal symptoms , scored by The Menopausal Symptoms Question naire 34 , improved significantly following supplementation with Pycnogenol ® . The supplementation was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS The supplementation with Pycnogenol ® improved the quality of life of perimenopausal women and normalized a series of cardiovascular risk factors , especially factors connected to cardiovascular events , as homocysteine and CRP A double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized , multi-center study was performed with 77 diabetes type II patients to investigate anti-diabetic effects of the French maritime pine bark extract , Pynogenol . Supplementation with 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks , during which a st and ard anti-diabetic treatment was continued , significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo .  HbA1(c ) was also lowered ; however , the difference as compared to placebo was statistically significant only for the first month . In the Pycnogenol-group  endothelin-1 was significantly decreased , while 6-ketoprostagl and in F(1a ) in plasma was elevated compared to placebo . Nitric oxide levels in plasma increased during treatment in both groups , but , differences did not reach statistical significance . Pycnogenol was well-tolerated with ECG , electrolytes , creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remaining unchanged in both groups . Mild and transient unwanted effects were reported for both groups without significant differences . Supplementation of Pycnogenol to conventional diabetes treatment lowers glucose levels and improves endothelial function This study evaluated the effects of Pycnogenol as an adjunct to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor ramipril treatment of hypertensive patients presenting with early signs of renal function problems . One group of 26 patients was medicated with 10 mg ramipril per day only ; a second group of 29 patients  took Pycnogenol in addition to the ACE inhibitor over a period of 6 months . At trial end , a lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in both groups , with a significant further reduction of diastolic pressure in the group given Pycnogenol in addition to ramipril . The major aim of this study was the investigation of kidney-protective effects of Pycnogenol . Urinary albumin decreased from 87 ± 23 to 64 ± 16 mg/d with ramipril only . Additional Pycnogenol  lowered albumin significantly better from 91 ± 25 to 39 ± 13 mg/day ( P < .05 ) . In both groups , serum creatinine was lowered ; however , only in the combination treatment group did the effect reached statistical significance . In both groups , CRP levels decreased from 2.1 to 1.8 with ramipril and from 2.2 to 1.1 with the ramipril — Pycnogenol combination ; the latter reached statistical significance . Kidney cortical flow velocity was investigated by Doppler color duplex ultrasonography . Both systolic and diastolic flow velocities increased significantly after 6 months medication with ramipril . The addition of Pycnogenol to the regimen statistically significantly further enhanced kidney cortical flow velocities , by 8 % for diastolic flow and 12 % for systolic flow , relative to values found for the group taking ramipril only . The protective effects of Pycnogenol for initial kidney damage found in this study warrant further research with a larger number of patients and over a longer period of time The study examines the effects of the antioxidant flavonoid Pycnogenol on a range of cognitive and biochemical measures in healthy elderly individuals . The study used a double-blind , placebo-controlled , matched-pair design , with 101 elderly participants ( 60—85 years ) consuming a daily dose of 150 mg of Pycnogenol for a three-month treatment period . Participants were assessed at baseline , then at 1 , 2 , and 3 months of the treatment . The control ( placebo ) and Pycnogenol groups were matched by age , sex , body mass index , micronutrient intake , and intelligence . The cognitive tasks comprised measures of attention , working memory , episodic memory , and psychomotor performance . The biological measures comprised levels of clinical hepatic enzymes , serum lipid profile , human growth hormone , and lipid peroxidation products . Statistically significant interactions were found for memory-based cognitive variables and lipid peroxidation products , with the Pycnogenol group displaying improved working memory and decreased concentrations of F2-isoprostanes relative to the control group BACKGROUND Oligopinۚ ( OP ) is a quantified extract from French Maritime Pine bark ( FMPB ) with low molecular weight procyanidins . The cardioprotective effects of OP need to be tested in human clinical intervention trials with an appropriate design . PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of subchronic consumption of OP on cardiovascular disease risk factors such as lipid profile , systolic blood pressure ( BP ) and oxidized-Low Density Lipoprotein ( ox-LDL ) in stage-1-hypertensive subjects . METHODS Between February 14 and May 31 , 2014 , eligible subjects were recruited from the outpatient clinics of Hospital Universitari Sant Joan ( Reus , Spain ) . A total of 24 participants ( mean age ± DS ; 57.36 ± 11.25 ; 17 men ) with stage-1-hypertension who were not receiving BP-lowering medication and LDL cholesterol < 4.88 mmol/l were r and omized in a double-blind , placebo-controlled , crossover study . The subjects received 2 capsules/day with 75 mg of OP or placebo for 5-weeks . RESULTS At 5-weeks , compared to the placebo , OP  raised High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-c ) by 14.06 % ( p = 0.012 ) and apolipoprotein A-1 by 8.12 % ( p = 0.038 ) and reduced the ratio of apolipoprotein B-100/A-1 by 10.26 % ( p = 0.046 ) . Moreover , at 5-weeks , compared to the baseline , OP  reduced the systolic BP by 6.36 mmHg ( p = 0.014 ) , and decreased ox-LDL concentrations by 31.72 U/l ( p = 0.015 ) . CONCLUSION At 5-weeks , the consumption of 150 mg/day of OP  improve lipid cardiovascular profile and represents one of the scarce ways to increase HDL-c in stage-1-hypertensive subjects . TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov : NCT02063477
target: The results indicate that pycnogenol supplementation improves levels of HDL-C ; however , the changes in TC , TAG , and LDL-C were not clinical ly relevant .
  Since there are few phytochemicals that have a significant increasing effect on HDL-C levels  , pycnogenol may have important role in prevention of cardiovascular diseases
background: The effects of pycnogenol on plasma lipids are controversial .
  A systematic review and meta- analysis of clinical trials were conducted to obtain a conclusive result in humans .