Lipid metabolism and erectile function improvement by pycnogenol ®, extract from the bark of pinus pinaster in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction-a pilot study

Abstract

The effect of Pycnogenol ® (PYC) (extract from the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster) and placebo on lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and erectile function was investigated in 21 patients suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). The patients were treated with PYC (120 mg/day) or placebo for three months in a double-blind study. After three months of administration, PYC significantly improved ED (p < 0.05) from moderate to mild stage determined with International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Simultaneously, a significant increase of plasma antioxidant activity (p < 0.01) was observed. Three months after PYC administration, the level of total cholesterol decreased from 5.41 to 4.98 mmol/L and LDL-cholesterol from 3.44 to 2.78 mmol/L. Placebo had no effect. The levels of HDL-cholesterol and TAGs were not changed. Pycnogenol ® seems to have a beneficial effect on treatment of erectile dysfunction.