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Slows Glucose Uptake After Eating :

Research in the Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice reveals that Pycnogenol which provides many health benefits, is 190 times more effective than prescription medicine acarbose (Precose) in slowing uptake of glucose after eating a meal, thereby preventing after-meal glucose spikes.

The study, conducted at University of Wurzburg, Germany, by Dr. Petra Hogger, found that Pycnogenol worked by inhibiting the intestinal enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down complex carbohydrates such as starch and table sugar into glucose molecules.

The high levels of procyanidins (flavonoids) in Pycnogenol are particularly good at inhibiting alpha-glucosidase. As a result, meal carbohydrates break down into glucose slowly and enter the bloodstream more steadily, over a longer period of time. This prolongs a feeling of fullness and reduces after-meal glucose spikes.

Pycnogenol is extracted from the bark of maritime pine trees that grow on the coast of southwest France and contain a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids. Bioflavonoids, which are also found in fruits, help vitamin C function as an antioxidant. Pycnogenol contains a group of bioflavonoids called proanthocyanidins.

Help Slow Retinopathy:

Proanthocyanidins have been shown to increase the elasticity of capillaries, the small blood vessels found in the retina, thereby improving circulation. In France, Pycnogenol is the number one prescription for retinopathy, the diabetes-caused damage to blood vessels in the retina that can lead to blindness.

More than 250 studies and reviews have been published about Pycnogenol’s salutary effects, and it is available in more than 600 supplements. The recommended daily dosage of Pycnogenol is 30-60 mg.

Reference: Diabetes-Health – April-May 2007

Isotonic OPC 3 with Pycnogenol

Tags: glycemic index, health, nutrition