Why it is important to keep healthy joints?

Our joints are subject to wear and tear and with increasing age the lining of joints - the "cushioning cartilage" - gradually degenerates. When cartilage has reached a significant abrasion, the articular tissue will be affected and this tissue trauma initiates a local inflammation. The consequence is a reduced flexibility of joints and pain which, left untreated, may reach excruciating levels.

More mobility, more flexibility, less pain, less drug.

In various studies, Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract demonstrated its ability to promote joint mobility and flexibility and naturally relieve the aching. It was also shown that after supplementing with Pycnogenol®, joints were more flexible and less medication was required. In addition Pycnogenol® has been found to lower inflammatory markers of joint soreness.

How can Pycnogenol^® potently inhibits inflammation in arthritis and lowers inflammatory markers in osteoarthritis?

Consumption of Pycnogenol® was shown to limit the activation of the pro-inflammatory «master switch» NF-kB by 15.8 percent. This master switch commands the mobilization of all proinflammatory molecules, which play a destructive role in arthritis.

As a consequence, Pycnogenol® consumers generate less matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes, which are responsible for degenerating cartilage collagen in osteoarthritis. In addition, Pycnogenol® consumption was found to naturally inhibit generation of COX-2 enzymes during inflammation in humans, thus providing a significant contribution for lowering joint pain.

Pycnogenol^® lowers inflammatory markers CRP in osteoarthritis

Pycnogenol® was also demonstrated to significantly lower the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) by 72 percent and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 30 percent.

This finding suggests that the anti-inflammatory activity of Pycnogenol® is effective in individuals suffering from arthritic joints.