New Study: Pine Bark Significantly Reduces Mens...( Multi-center Field Study Reveal...),Health

Multi-center Field Study Reveals Pycnogenol(R) Reduces Need for

Dysmenorrhea Pain Medication

HOBOKEN, N.J., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study reveals dysmenorrhea, a condition that causes extremely painful menstrual periods affecting millions of women each year, can be reduced naturally by taking Pycnogenol(R) (pic-noj- en-all), pine bark extract from the French maritime pine tree. The multi- center field study, published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, shows women with dysmenorrhea who supplemented with Pycnogenol(R) experienced less pain and required less pain medications during menstruation.

"Dysmenorrheal pain is thought to be caused by elevated levels of inflammation and characterized by menstrual cramping pain, which may reach incapacitating severity," said Dr. Nobutaka Suzuki, lead researcher of the study. "Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen provide temporary help against menstrual pain. Unfortunately, they are generally ineffective for resolving spasmodic events and commonly cause side effects, particularly gastric problems."

Numerous published studies reveal Pycnogenol's(R) effectiveness in relieving menstrual disorders, such as relief of menstrual pain and endometriosis, and it is patent protected for this application. Additional studies reveal Pycnogenol(R) is a natural anti-inflammatory, which provides the basis for the rational to use Pycnogenol(R) to naturally moderate inflammatory pain sensation involved in menstruation. A study published last year in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine revealed that Pycnogenol(R) significantly reduces symptoms of endometriosis by 33 percent. This study also demonstrated that Pycnogenol(R) does not exert any estrogen-like activity, which considerably adds to the safety for women who seek help for painful periods.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at four Japanese hospitals (K
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