Full profile
| Also known as | Pycnogenol (branded), Pine bark extract |
|---|---|
| Best for | Circulation support · Antioxidant support |
| Evidence grade | Grade C — Limited — early or small human trials |
| Studied dose range | 50–150 mg daily of a standardized extract in many studies. |
| Time to effect | Generally studied over weeks of daily use. |
| Best form | Extract standardized to procyanidin content. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Human cognition trials exist but are heavily concentrated in one branded extract (Pycnogenol, Horphag Research) and largely one research group (Belcaro and colleagues), so results do not automatically generalize to all pine bark products and the manufacturer's own "39 trials" tally reflects volume, not independent replication. Graded C accordingly.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
207 licensed natural health products in Health Canada's LNHPD list Maritime Pine Bark as a medicinal ingredient.
That makes Maritime Pine Bark a recognized, licensable medicinal ingredient in Canada — regulated by Health Canada's Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, which issues each licensed natural health product a Natural Product Number (NPN). Search the LNHPD to verify.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
- Occasional GI upset or dizziness
Who should avoid it or check first
- On blood-thinning or immune-modulating medication without review
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without guidance
Interactions
- May interact with blood thinners and immune-modulating drugs — discuss with a clinician
Stacks well with
What to look for on a label
- Check the procyanidin standardization.
- Branded-extract study results may not apply to generic pine bark.
References
- Pine bark circulation trials. Human studies, several branded-extract specific.
Entries above without a linked identifier are either editorial summaries of a wider body of literature or references to a named authority (a regulator or government monograph) cited by name rather than by a single paper.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
Revision history
Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.
- 2026-07-04New profile
Initial profile published at Grade C: human cognition trials are concentrated in one branded extract and largely one research group, so the results do not automatically generalize.
See how Maritime Pine Bark compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.
