Hoboken, NJ—A new clinical trial indicates that a combination of Pycnogenol and coenzyme Q10 (PycnoQ10 from Natural Health Science, based here) may benefit patients who have had heart failure and are receiving medical treatment.

Over the course of three months, 53 patients who had high blood pressure and stable congestive heart failure were given the supplement (15 mg of Pycnogenol and 50 of CoQ10 from Kaneka) or a placebo along with their regular heart medications. All participants had 40% ejection fraction (i.e., a measure of heart pumping). During the study, this measurement was taken via ultrasound and exercise capacity was evaluated.

In the end, the supplement group experienced decreased blood pressure (systolic down 139.2 to 133.2 mmHg, diastolic down 82.3 to 77.3 mmHg) and lower heart rate, (78.4 to 74.2 beats per minute). These results were better than the control group. Respiratory rate was lowered as well, while heart ejection increased. The supplement group also could walk longer on a treadmill after treatment than the control group. These data are published in Panminerva Medica.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, August 2011