New clinical research suggests Pycnogenol, a French maritime pine bark extract, may offer a natural, non-hormonal approach to support women with osteopenia and clinically stable osteoporosis, conditions associated with reduced bone mass, increased fracture risk, and decreased quality of life.
Approximately 10 million Americans are living with osteoporosis, while another 44 million have low bone mass and an increased risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures.
Published in Frontiers (part 1 and part 2), the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 67 post-menopausal women with osteopenia or clinically stable osteoporosis.
They received either 200 mg of Pycnogenol daily or a placebo for 3 months, followed by an additional 3 months of Pycnogenol for all participants.
The study evaluated quality of life, safety indicators and markers related to mineral metabolism and bone resorption.
After 3 months, women taking Pycnogenol showed significantly greater improvements than the placebo group in several patient-reported measures, including
- Vitality: increased by 15.2% with Pycnogenol vs 1.2% with placebo, for a 14.0-percentage-point difference between groups
- Physical comfort: Scores improved by 18.5% with Pycnogenol versus a 6.2% decline with placebo, representing a 24.7-percentage-point difference
- Bone resorption markers: CTX-1 decreased by approximately 10.6% after 3 months of Pycnogenol supplementation, a statistically significant change from baseline. Serum phosphate levels also decreased while remaining within the reference range.
During the additional 3-month phase, women who continued taking Pycnogenol maintained the improvement in physical comfort scores observed at month three.
Safety monitoring through month six showed no clinically relevant laboratory abnormalities.
“We’re at a moment when women are thinking about their health very differently."
"Menopause is finally getting the attention it deserves, millions of people are experiencing significant weight loss with GLP-1 medications, and both conversations raise important questions about protecting bone health as we age,” said Dr Fred Pescatore, natural health physician and best-selling author.
Bone health isn’t just about a number on a scan; it can affect how you feel and function every day.
"That’s why these findings are so interesting. Pycnogenol was associated not only with favourable changes in a marker of bone resorption, but also improvements in vitality and physical comfort.”
Supporting women’s bone health and healthy ageing with science
Pycnogenol contains a unique blend of polyphenols with demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
These benefits may help to address oxidative stress and inflammation associated with bone remodelling and physical discomfort, offering a potential explanation for the improvements in quality of life and bone-resorption markers observed in the new study.
Bone loss often accelerates during and after menopause as estrogen levels decline, making bone health an important consideration for women as they age.
Previous research has also demonstrated Pycnogenol’s benefits for menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances and mood-related concerns.
Earlier preclinical studies of oestrogen-deficiency-related bone loss have also shown favourable effects on bone mineral density, bone resorption and bone strength.
Backed by more than 40 years of research across numerous areas of health, Pycnogenol continues to be studied for its wide-ranging benefits.
The latest findings add to its substantial body of published clinical research, reinforcing its potential role in supporting quality of life and healthy ageing in women.
