HOBOKEN, N.J., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ — More than 50 million
Americans will experience some degree of tinnitus in their
lifetime, according to the American Tinnitus Association.
Tinnitus is a hearing condition that causes the constant
misperception of sound, including hissing, ringing and rushing
noises. A study recently published in Panminerva
Medica reveals that Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all), an
antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French
maritime pine tree, is effective in relieving tinnitus symptoms by
improving blood flow in the inner ear.
“Impaired blood flow to the ear is a common cause for tinnitus,
a disturbing and very debilitating condition that can considerably
impact overall health and quality of life,” said Dr. Gianni
Belcaro, a lead researcher on the study along with his team from
Irvine3 Vascular labs, Chieti-Pescara University. “With few
options available for treatment, this study gave us the opportunity
to explore a natural solution to tinnitus symptoms and its
causes.”
In a study conducted by the Chieti-Pescara University in Italy,
82 patients between the ages of 35 and 55 with mild-to-moderate
tinnitus in only one ear, while the other remains unaffected, were
studied throughout a four-week period. Tinnitus in all
subjects was a result of restricted blood supply to the inner ear,
as measured by high resolution ultrasonography imaging of their
cochlear blood flow. Patients were assigned to one of three
groups: A, B and control. Group A consisted of 24 patients
who were administered 150 mg/day of Pycnogenol®, group B
consisted of 34 patients who were administered 100 mg/day of
Pycnogenol®, and the control group consisted of 24 patients who
received no Pycnogenol®. None of the patients had
previously used medication for their tinnitus symptoms.
At the beginning of the study, patients’ average initial
systolic and diastolic blood flow ve
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