Adding PycnoQ10 to treatment for heart failure patients boosts blood flow to organs

HOBOKEN, N.J. — A recent study published in Panminerva Medica found that a pycnogenol and coenzyme-Q10 combination (PycnoQ10) taken by stable heart failure patients as an adjunct to medical treatment naturally strengthens the heart, increasing the blood volume ejected with each beat.

As a result, the oxygen-rich blood supply to the organs improves, and patients become more physically energetic.

Pycnogenol is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and has been clinically proven to improve endothelial function and blood flow.

"Many conditions that lead to heart failure cannot be reversed, but heart failure can often be medically managed with good results," stated Gianni Belcaro, a lead researcher of the study. "This study shows that a combination of Pycnogenol and CoQ10 offers an effective, natural solution as adjunct for heart health management."

The 12-week single-blinded, placebo-controlled observational study was conducted at Chieti-Pescara University in Italy and investigated the effectiveness of pycnogenol and kaneka CoQ10 (PycnoQ10) supplementation in 53 patients. Patients were between the ages of 54 and 68 years and had mild to moderate hypertension, with stable congestive heart failure.

The physical abilities of patients improved substantially as evidenced by 3.3 times longer walking distance on a treadmill in patients taking PycnoQ10, versus marginal improvement in a control group.