The purpose of the present study was to examine whether 14 days of supplementation with maritime pine extract leading up to and following an exercise test would increase performance and reduce biomarkers associated with muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Twenty apparently healthy young male participants ingested either 800 mg pine bark extract or placebo for 14 days prior to the first exercise trial and for 2 days postexercise. On the exercise day, participants submitted a pre-exercise blood sample then completed a VOpeak test until volitional failure. A postexercise blood sample was collected 1 hour after completion of exercise. Participants returned at 24 and 48 hours after the exercise testing for measures of muscle pain in the lower body using an algometer. Participants then had a 7-day washout period before beginning to cross over to the alternate treatment. Analysis via ordinal regression demonstrated a significant difference in oxidative stress in the maritime pine extract group compared to placebo (ChiSq = 2.63; p = 0.045). Maritime pine extract was effective at affording protection from oxidative stress postexercise. Further work should be undertaken to evaluate thefindings with other exercise modes or in participants with known metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE:This was the open-label study to evaluate the potential benefit of Pinus radiata bark extract and vitamin C as a treatment for migraine.

METHODS:Fifty outpatients with chronic migraine refractory to at least two prophylactic medications were treated with an antioxidant formulation of 1200 mg Pinus radiata bark extract and 150 mg vitamin C daily for 3 months. Patients completed migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study to assess migraine impact on work, school, domestic and social activities over the three months prior to enrollment and the three month treatment period. Patients continued existing pharmacologic medications during the study. Patients who were responders were assessed for migraine impact using MIDAS questionnaires every 3 months for 12 months.

RESULTS:Twenty nine patients (58%) showed improvement in MIDAS score, number of headache days and headache severity score over the 3 months of treatment. Mean MIDAS score significantly improved from 30.3 days at baseline to 14.4 days; mean number of headache days significantly reduced from 47.9 days at baseline to 25.9 days, and mean headache severity reduced from 8.1 out of 10 to 5.6 after 3 months therapy. The responders who continuously took Pinus radiata bark extract and vitamin C combination for 12 months experienced ongoing migraine relief with more than 50% reduction of frequency and severity of headaches.

CONCLUSION:These data suggest that the antioxidant therapy used in this study may be beneficial in the treatment of migraine possibly reducing headache frequency and severity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential benefit of a pine bark extract and antioxidant vitamin combination product in the treatment of migraine headache. BACKGROUND: This was an uncontrolled preliminary study to investigate the potential of an antioxidant formulation as therapy for migraine headache. METHODS: Twelve patients with a long-term history of migraine with and without aura who had failed to respond to multiple treatments with beta-blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists were selected for the study. They were treated with 10 capsules of an antioxidant formulation of 120 mg pine bark extract, 60 mg vitamin C, and 30 IU vitamin E in each capsule daily for 3 months. Following enrollment patients completed a migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire to give a baseline measure of migraine impact on work, school, domestic, and social activities over the previous 3 months. Patients were then treated for 3 months with the antioxidant formulation while continuing to receive existing pharmacologic medications. A second MIDAS was given at the conclusion of the treatment period. RESULTS: There was a significant mean improvement in MIDAS score of 50.6% for the 3-month treatment period compared with the 3 months prior to baseline (P<.005). The treatment was also associated with significant reductions in number of headache days and headache severity score. Mean number of headache days was reduced from 44.4 days at baseline (95% CI 28.9 to 59.8) to 26.0 days (95% CI 5.3 to 46.7; P<.005) after 3 months' therapy and mean headache severity was reduced from 7.5 of 10 (95% CI 6.7 to 8.4) to 5.5 (95% CI 4.1 to 7.0; P<.005). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the antioxidant therapy used in this study may be beneficial in the treatment of migraine possibly reducing headache frequency and severity. Further clinical investigation into the efficacy of antioxidant as therapy for chronic migraine is warranted.