A tree bark extract vs. a tree nut extract used for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI):
A 4-week study followed 40 people with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), compared the benefits of Venostasin (horse chestnut seed extract) at 600 mg oral daily against Pycnogenol (pine bark extract) at 360 mg oral daily. The results showed improvements in both treated groups, but Pycnogenol was significantly more effective than Venostasin. Pycnogenol significantly reduced lower limb circumference, CVI symptoms (pain, cramps, night-time swelling, feeling of ‘heaviness’, and reddening of the skin), total cholesterol and LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol without affecting HDL ‘good’ cholesterol. Venostasin did not significantly improve symptoms nor did it effect lipid values. However, both were well tolerated. (9)