Extracts from French maritime pine bark may help to improve the heart health of patients with diabetes, a new study suggests.
Pine bark extract has already been found to reduce knee pain, improve muscle performance, and even have a beneficial effect on memory.
The latest research, by scientists at the University of Arizona, indicates that it may reduce blood pressure and reduce reliance on blood pressure medication among patients with type-2 diabetes.
Researchers gave some study participants daily pine bark extract supplements for 12 weeks, while others received a placebo.
They found that 58 per cent of patients who took the supplements attained a stable systolic blood pressure compared to just 20.8 per cent of patients on the placebo.
In addition, those taking supplements were able to reduce their use of pharmaceutical blood pressure drugs by 50 per cent.
Lead author Sherma Zibadi, from the University of Arizona, wrote in the journal Nutrition Research that the findings "confirm the hypothesis" that pine bark extract improves diabetes control and may reduce the risk of heart disease in people with type-2 diabetes, website NutraIngredients.com reports.
Extracts from French maritime pine bark may help to improve the heart health of patients with diabetes, a new study suggests.
