Pycnogenol, a french maritime pine bark extract, proven in a new clinical trial to reduce critical asthma symptoms

DKSH Japan
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PYCNOGENOL, a French maritime pine bark extract,
proven in a new clinical trial to reduce critical asthma
symptoms
08.11.2012 | DKSH Japan, distributer of Horphag Research’s products in Japan,
announces results from a new study on Pycnogenol®. The study shows that the
natural supplement of Pycnogenol improves allergic asthma management, helping
asthma patients reduce inhaler dosage, sleep awakenings and doctor visits.
Tokyo, Japan, November 8, 2012 – Results from a new study give hope to millions of asthmasufferers. Those afflicted with asthma know the discomfort of asthma symptoms, particularlypatients’ dependence on an inhaler and sudden awakenings at night while struggling to breathe. The study, published in Volume 53 of Panminerva Medica, found that the naturalsupplement Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all) – an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree – reduces allergic asthma attacks and night awakenings caused by asthma symptoms by nearly 50%. Asthma patients who used Pycnogenol also experienced reduced dependence on inhalation corticosteroid (ICS), which is commonly administeredthrough an inhaler and reduced patients’ visits to a doctor as a result of asthma symptoms.
DKSH Japan K.K.
The study, conducted at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at University of Pescara, Italy examined 76 patients, aged 25-45 years, with mild to moderate allergic asthma due to dustmites. Provocation with dust mite allergen was carried out to confirm allergen specificityDuring the study, participants were split into two groups. One group was given 100 mg ofPycnogenol per day in addition to sustaining their use of ICS. The other group continued theiruse of ICS without additional supplementation. Daily ICS dosage and common asthmasymptoms were evaluated in participants of both groups throughout a six month period. Thestudy found that: • Pycnogenol supplementation allowed for lowering the daily required ICS dosage in 55% ofparticipants. In the control group only 6% of patients were able to control their asthma witha lower steroid dosage, while 19% had to switch to a higher regimen to control their asthma• In the Pycnogenol group use of a salbutamol rescue inhaler was required, on average, everyfifth day, while in the control group inhalers were required, on average, every second day todeal with sudden asthma symptom flare-ups• Pycnogenol reduced night awakenings caused by asthma symptoms to only half thefrequency as before, while no significant change was found for the control group• Pycnogenol lowered the amount of days with a more than a one asthma score, which is ameasure used to evaluate asthmatic patients’ degree of respiratory distress• Pycnogenol decreased frequency of consultation visits to a general practitioner or specialistby asthma patients “Managing asthma allows those suffering from this critical condition to experience less of theuncomfortable symptoms of asthma, enabling them to live a better quality of life,” said Dr.
Fred Pescatore, an internationally recognized health expert and author of the best sellingbook The Allergy and Asthma Cure. “Pycnogenol has offered my asthma patients a healthyway to effectively manage this condition by reducing their use of multiple medications andthe regular occurrence of critical symptom episodes.” This study joins a wealth of other research regarding the benefits of Pycnogenol for asthmamanagement in both adults and children with mild to moderate asthma. Previous research has demonstrated the natural supplement’s antioxidant activity and powerful anti-inflammatory properties that work to combat the inflammatory processes of the bronchiwhich cause them to constrict and swell, making breathing difficult. Pycnogenol was shownin three clinical studies to lower leukotriene values, inflammatory mediators responsible forasthma symptoms, and to some extent also inallergic rhinitis (hay-fever). Asthmaticsexperience periods of wheezy breathing and breathlessness with intervals of relative orcomplete freedom from symptoms. Antigenic substances such as pollen, mite in house dustand animal hair may challenge the immune system leading to airway obstruction, whilechemical irritants like tobacco, smoke and air pollution may also trigger symptoms.
Pycnogenol normalizes the immune response that helps reduce harmful inflammationresulting in asthma or hay-fever symptoms and attacks.
“This study gives promising news to asthma patients seeking a natural way to complementtheir medication in order to better control their asthma symptoms, and confirms thatPycnogenol offers a natural solution that is not only effective but also safe,” said Dr. GianniBelcaro, a lead researcher of the study.
About DKSH Japan K.K.
DKSH Japan (previously known as Nihon SiberHegner) is one of the first foreign trading
companies in Japan that was established as Siber Brennwald in Yokohama in 1865. With
uninterrupted presence in Japan for nearly 150 years, DKSH has contributed greatly to Japan
and its culture, becoming today the leading Market Expansion Services provider in Japan.
DKSH Japan offers products and services in the three specialized areas of Luxury & Lifestyle,
Performance Materials, and Technology.
DKSH Japan is part of the DKSH Group, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The Group islisted since March 2012 on the SIX Swiss Exchange, and has over 26,000 specialized staffoperating out of 650 business locations – 630 of them in Asia – in 35 countries. In 2011, theGroup generated net sales of CHF 7.3 billion.
DKSH Management Ltd./DKSH Holding Ltd.

Source: http://www.dksh.jp/htm/388/en_JP/News-Detail.pdf?Id=379736