Table of Contents
1. Introduction
In my post on Pycnogenol, I discussed all the potential benefits of this potent Pine Bark extract. In this post, I will present to you some Pycnogenol supplements I highly recommend.
There are plenty of products with Pycnogenol nowadays. So, you don’t need to wear a druid outfit and start wandering in the French forests looking for pine bark. Obviously, if you do, I wanna know all about it.
2. Do you need Pycnogenol supplements?
It depends on your age, diet and overall health.
2.1. Pycnogenol, age and health
You won’t necessarily see results from Pycnogenol if you’re young and healthy.
A trial on young, healthy adults (19-42 years old) didn’t find a significant increase in the levels of antioxidants in their blood after taking Pycnogenol.
However, as the researchers point out, the volunteers were young, non-smokers and healthy. People who don’t fall in these categories may see more obvious benefits from Pycnogenol supplements.
I guess you wouldn’t be reading this post if the above-mentioned trifecta applied to you. And I wouldn’t have bothered to make this post if it applied to me!
Also, the study was conducted in 2003, and since then many new trials have shown that Pycnogenol may offer various health benefits.
2.2. Pycnogenol and our diet
The Polyphenols in Pycnogenol are present in various plant-based foods, such as berries, grapes, cocoa beans, apples and wholegrains. If you regularly consume such foods, you will likely get a sufficient amount of these Polyphenols through your diet.
But do you? Most of us know the importance of a good diet but we don’t always stick to it, especially during stressful periods, which is exactly when we SHOULD stick to it!
Plus, many adults never outgrow their dislike for fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. I know people who eat 5-a-week, rather than 5-a-day.
2.3. Who will benefit the most from Pycnogenol
I don’t see any harm in taking a supplement with Pycnogenol, especially if:
- You’re a smoker
- You’re often stressed. So, everyone in the Western world, basically.
- You party like it’s 1999. Or 2019.
- You spend a lot of time in the sun
- You eat croissants and instant noodles for lunch
- You have an inflammatory skin disease, such as Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis
- You have an chronic inflammatory disease, such as Diabetes and Osteoarthritis
- All of the above.
3. Supplements with Pycnogenol
In this list, I included a more affordable supplement that doesn’t contain Pycnogenol, but Oligopin. The latter is a Pine Bark extract with similar properties to Pycnogenol.
However, some Pycnogenol supplements in this list contain other beneficial compounds too. The choice is yours!
If you buy from one of my affiliate links, you won’t incur any additional charges and I will just earn a very small commission that will help this blog to keep going.
I always give priority to the most budget-friendly options when recommending products. My bank account hates me for that.
3.1. Source Naturals Pycnogenol Supreme
This powerhouse supplement provides 25 mg Pycnogenol per tablet, along with many extracts and antioxidants derived from plants. I definitely recommend it to those of you that don’t eat fruit and veg regularly.
The plant-based antioxidants in this product will likely have a synergistic effect with Pycnogenol.
Its beneficial ingredients include Resveratrol, Quercetin, Silymarin, Bromelain, extracts of Green Tea, Grape Seed, Sweet Cherry and much more. All of them are ingredients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.
Considering all the antioxidants it contains, it is very reasonably priced and sometimes on a 20% discount too.
Source Naturals recommends 2 tablets daily (50 mg Pycnogenol), but I recommend you start with 1 tablet if your budget is tight. 25 mg of Pycnogenol is a low dose, but because of the other ingredients in the formula, you may still see results.
Buy from iHerb (30 tablets)
Buy from iHerb (60 tablets)
3.2. Now Foods Pycnogenol 100 mg
I read loads of scientific papers in my post on Pycnogenol. In the vast majority of trials, the volunteers took at least 100 mg. So, I think that 100 mg daily is a good starting dose if you’re looking to address a specific health concern.
This supplement also contains 240 mg Amla extract. Also known as Indian Gooseberry, this extract is a source of various Polyphenols and it’s been shown to have potent antioxidant activity. Some of the antioxidants in Amla are not present in Pycnogenol, so I think these two together are a power couple.
The capsules are veggie.
If I bought a Pycnogenol supplement, it would probably be this one. Out of all the supplements in this list, I think it offers the best value for money. Both because of the cost per mg of Pycnogenol and the added Gooseberry extract.
The temptation to ignore my bank account balance and place an order right now is almost beyond my control.
Buy from iHerb (60 capsules)
3.3. Source Naturals Pycnogenol 100 mg
This is another product with 100 mg of Pycnogenol. This dosage may also be adequate for skin-related issues, such as melasma, a type of hyperpigmentation.
100 mg of Pycnogenol may also provide some photoprotection. But you may need to take it continuously for a one to two months for the photoprotective effect to develop.
No supplement can replace your sunscreen, of course.
This is one of the most affordable options with 100 mg of Pycnogenol that I’ve seen online. Inevitably, it’s sometimes out of stock.
Buy from iHerb (60 tablets)
3.4. Now Foods Pycnogenol 30 mg
Do you regularly consume berries, apples, grapes, dark chocolate and wholegrains? If yes, 30 mg of Pycnogenol daily could be a good top-up. There’s an option to buy a bottle with 150 capsules, which will last a long time.
In addition to Pycnogenol, it also contains 300 mg Citrus Bioflavonoids per capsule. Citrus Bioflavonoids mainly contain compounds such as Hesperidin, Quercetin, Rutin and Quercetin. These compounds are not present in Pycnogenol, and they have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Sometimes this supplement is on a 20% discount too. The capsules are veggie.
Buy from iHerb (60 capsules)
Buy from iHerb (150 capsules)
3.5. Natural Factors Pycnogenol 25 mg
This supplement contains only 25 mg of Pycnogenol with no other beneficial ingredients in the formula. However, it does have very good reviews on iHerb and it is rather affordable too. It is the cheapest option in this list.
One reviewer mentioned that 100 mg Pycnogenol was upsetting their stomach, but they could tolerate 25 mg. So this may be just the right dosage for some people.
If you wish to experiment with a low dosage of Pycnogenol, I think Natural Factors is one of the best options on the market.
The capsules are veggie.
Buy from iHerb (60 tablets)
3.6. Natrol Pycnogenol 50 mg
50 mg of Pycnogenol is a mid-strength dosage. In most studies, the participants took at least 100 mg. However, if you consume foods high in Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids regularly, 50 mg could be a great top-up.
This is a more pricey option than other supplements in this list, but Natrol is a very popular brand.
Buy from iHerb (60 capsules)
3.7. Life Extension Pycnogenol 100 mg
This is the priciest option in this list. I am not sure if the quality justifies the price difference, but I included it because it’s usually one of the most popular Pycnogenol supplements on iHerb.
It does have the best packaging in this list, though. And it’s still cheaper than other brands!
The capsules are veggie.
Buy from iHerb (60 capsules)
3.8. California Gold Nutrition Oligopin 100 mg
If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to Pycnogenol, try Oligopin. In contrast to other Pine Bark extracts, it is sourced from the same forest as Pycnogenol, the Les Landes Forest.
The composition of Oligopin is actually very similar to the one of Pycnogenol. On the other hand, the efficacy of Pycnogenol is supported by more research. However, I think that, if you can’t afford Pycnogenol, this is an excellent alternative. The capsules are veggie.
The company that produces Oligopin, also manufactures a Pine Bark extract called “Cosmythic”. Best trade name EVER!
Buy from iHerb (60 capsules)
Buy from iHerb (180 capsules)
4. Buying from iHerb
iHerb ships from the US. So, unless you live in the US, I suggest you keep the cost of your order to a minimum to avoid those dreaded customs charges! Unless you choose shipping with a courier that includes these charges.
If you live in the EU, new rules apply from July 2021. You now always pay taxes when placing an order, even if the order value is below 22 euros. Taxes are calculated in the cart and paid when you place the order.
This is probably for the best. In some countries, the charges that you had to pay to the Post Office for collecting the taxes were often way higher than the taxes themselves! Also sometimes, the custom clearance process took months to complete.
And since you don’t have to worry about the 22 euro threshhold, you can take advantage of the Free shipping option, which is about 34 euros.
5. References
Silliman, Kathryn et al. “Pycnogenol Does Not Impact the Antioxidant or Vitamin C Status of Healthy Young Adults.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association 103.1 (2003): 67–72. Web.
Călinoiu LF, Vodnar DC. Whole Grains and Phenolic Acids: A Review on Bioactivity, Functionality, Health Benefits and Bioavailability. Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1615. Published 2018 Nov 1.
John F. Hammerstone, Sheryl A. Lazarus, Harold H. Schmitz, Procyanidin Content and Variation in Some Commonly Consumed Foods, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 130, Issue 8, August 2000, Pages 2086S–2092S
Unusan, N.. “Proanthocyanidins in grape seeds: An updated review of their health benefits and potential uses in the food industry.” Journal of Functional Foods 67 (2020): 103861.
Chaphalkar R, Apte KG, Talekar Y, Ojha SK, Nandave M. Antioxidants of Phyllanthus emblica L. Bark Extract Provide Hepatoprotection against Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Damage: A Comparison with Silymarin. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:3876040.
Segal L, Penman MG, Piriou Y. Evaluation of the systemic toxicity and mutagenicity of OLIGOPIN®, procyanidolic oligomers (OPC) extracted from French Maritime Pine Bark extract [published correction appears in Toxicol Rep. 2020 Nov 13;7:1646]. Toxicol Rep. 2018;5:531-541. Published 2018 Apr 10.
Määttä-Riihinen KR, Kähkönen MP, Törrönen AR, Heinonen IM. Catechins and procyanidins in berries of vaccinium species and their antioxidant activity. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53(22):8485-8491
Mahmoud AM, Hernández Bautista RJ, Sandhu MA, Hussein OE. Beneficial Effects of Citrus Flavonoids on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019;2019:5484138. Published 2019 Mar 10.
Pinto, C.A., Delfes, M.F., Reis, L.M., Garbers, L., Passos, P.C., & Torre, D.S. (2015). The use of pycnogenol in the treatment of melasma. Surgical and Cosmetic Dermatology, 7.
Grether-Beck S, Marini A, Jaenicke T, Krutmann J: French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol®) Effects on Human Skin: Clinical and Molecular Evidence. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2016;29:13-17.
Li Y, Yao J, Han C, et al. Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity. Nutrients. 2016;8(3):167. Published 2016 Mar 15.
Gillessen A, Schmidt HH. Silymarin as Supportive Treatment in Liver Diseases: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther. 2020;37(4):1279-1301.
Kelley DS, Adkins Y, Laugero KD. A Review of the Health Benefits of Cherries. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):368. Published 2018 Mar 17.
Chakraborty AJ, Mitra S, Tallei TE, et al. Bromelain a Potential Bioactive Compound: A Comprehensive Overview from a Pharmacological Perspective. Life (Basel). 2021;11(4):317. Published 2021 Apr 6.
Prasanth MI, Sivamaruthi BS, Chaiyasut C, Tencomnao T. A Review of the Role of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) in Antiphotoaging, Stress Resistance, Neuroprotection, and Autophagy. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):474. Published 2019 Feb 23.
Weseler AR, Bast A. Masquelier’s grape seed extract: from basic flavonoid research to a well-characterized food supplement with health benefits. Nutr J. 2017;16(1):5. Published 2017 Jan 19.
Meng T, Xiao D, Muhammed A, Deng J, Chen L, He J. Anti-Inflammatory Action and Mechanisms of Resveratrol. Molecules. 2021;26(1):229. Published 2021 Jan 5.
Kooti W, Daraei N. A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery ( Apium graveolens L). J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017;22(4):1029-1034.
Chu W, Cheung SCM, Lau RAW, et al. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 4
What’s your experience with Pycnogenol supplements? Leave a comment below!
Comments and questions