Pycnogenol, a pine bark extract from the French maritime pine tree has been shown to reduce overall knee osteoarthritis symptoms by 20.9 percent, and lower pain by 40.3 percent, in a third clinical trial on osteoarthritis treatment with Pycnogenol.

It’s estimated by the Center for Disease Control that 34 percent of all adults over the age of 65 are affected by osteoarthritis, and that 26.9 million adults in the U.S. had osteoarthritis in 2005.

Pycnogenol acts as an anti-inflammatory and the study also suggests that Pycnogenol may assist the joints in recovery.
The 3-month study involved 100 patients with stage I or II osteoarthritis, and were supplemented with either 150 mg Pycnogenol or placebo every day.

Overall knee osteoarthritis symptoms improved showed a significant 20.9 percent improvement in the Pycnogenol group, with joint improvement persisting for 4 weeks after intake of Pycnogenol was discontinued. After the 3-month trial was completed there was a 40.3 percent reduction in joint pain, 2 weeks later the pain was still 36.1 percent lower.

The patients supplementing with Pycnogenol also required significantly less analgesic medication compared to the placebo group.