Idiopathic myalgic pain (fibromyalgia): supportive management and prevention with Pycnogenol®

Panminerva Med. 2021 Mar;63(1):46-50. doi: 10.23736/S0031-0808.20.03955-5.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this registry study was the prospective evaluation of the efficacy of Pycnogenol® in idiopathic fibromyalgia (FM), over 4 weeks in comparison with the standard management (SM).

Methods: A SM and a Pycnogenol®+SM group were formed. Pycnogenol® supplementation was used at the dose of 150 mg/day (4 weeks). The study considered the most important/frequent symptoms of FM.

Results: Fifty patients with idiopathic fibromyalgia were included: 26 in the Pycnogenol® group and 24 served as controls. The two groups were comparable at inclusion. No other disease or condition was present. All subjects were otherwise healthy women (BMI<26), not using any drug. All subjects had an elevated level of oxidative stress (OS) at inclusion. All routine blood tests - and all inflammatory and rheumatic tests - were within the normal range at inclusion and at the end of the study. No safety or tolerability problems were observed. The percentage of patients using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as rescue medications in the observation period was significantly higher in the SM management group (P<0.05) in comparison with the supplement group. The percentage of patients using corticosteroids as rescue medication was significantly higher in the SM group (P<0.05). The percentage of subjects with the symptoms/complaints decreased significantly, considering each symptom, with Pycnogenol® after 4 weeks in comparison with the SM (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Pycnogenol® supplementation appears to control and reduce the intensity of common symptoms and complaints - especially pain-related - associated with FM. Pycnogenol® could be a 'soft', safe supplementation and prevention method to manage the symptoms of most of these patients, even for longer periods, reducing the need for drugs.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Analgesics / adverse effects
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / adverse effects
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / blood
  • Fibromyalgia / diagnosis
  • Fibromyalgia / drug therapy*
  • Fibromyalgia / physiopathology
  • Flavonoids / adverse effects
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use*
  • Free Radicals / blood
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pilot Projects
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Registries
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Flavonoids
  • Free Radicals
  • Plant Extracts
  • pycnogenols