Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, and contains procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids.
The study examined 20 healthy women, aged 55 – 68 years, and were given 75 mg of Pycnogenol per day, over a period of 12 weeks.
In the research, skin hydration, skin elasticity, skin fatigue, and gene expression of HAS-1, COL1A1 and COL1A2 were evaluated at the beginning and after 12 weeks of Pycnogenol supplementation.
The study found that Pycnogenol elevated COL1A1 by 29% and COL1A2 by 41%, increased hyaluronic acid production in skin by 44%, and improved skin elasticity by 25 %.
Leibniz Research Institute lead researcher Jean Krutmann said Pycnogenol is the only natural supplement that stimulates hyaluronic acid production in human skin, and found to benefit human skin.