Fact Check: Can Pine bark extract treat asthma?

Claim: A social media post on Pinterest mentioned various benefits of  Pine bark extracts, such as beneficial for dry skin, boost fertility in men, boost kidney function, strong bones, reduces inflammation. Among various claims one such claim was Pine bark extracts treats asthma. The link to the post is here.

Fact Check:

This claim is half true.

What is asthma?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Asthma is a major non-communicable disease (NCD), affecting both children and adults and is the most common chronic disease among children." Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting people of all ages. It is caused by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, making breathing harder. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These symptoms can be mild or severe and can come and go over time. Inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs cause asthma symptoms, which can be any combination of cough, wheeze, shortness of breath and chest tightness. (1)

Speaking to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli explained various causes of asthma: "Asthma is a complex respiratory condition influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Some of the primary causes that trigger asthma include Family history. Certain allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) or allergic rhinitis (hay fever), are linked to people who get asthma. Other risk factors include viral respiratory infection, exposures to certain elements in the workplace, and smoking."

How prevalent is Asthma?

Asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 (2) and caused 455,000 deaths worldwide. It has been estimated that the prevalence of asthma in India is about 3% (30 million patients), with a prevalence of 2.4% in adults aged >15 years ⁷ and between 4% and 20% in children. (3)

What are pine bark extracts?

Although numerous pine species seem to possess advantageous health properties, most pine bark extracts available as herbal supplements on the market today are derived from maritime pines. Maritime pine bark extract is produced by grinding the pine bark and then washing and soaking it in hot water. Afterwards, the solid particles are separated from the liquid extract. This liquid can either be used in its current form or further processed by freeze-drying and then grinding it into a powder. (4)It contains various natural antioxidants, including bioflavonoids, catechins, procyanidins and phenolic acids. (5)

Can pine bark extracts treat asthma?

Pine bark extracts have shown some health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, which aid in treating asthma.

A study by Belacro et al. showed that” Pycnogenol (pine bark extract) administration was effective for better control of signs and symptoms of allergic asthma and reduced the need for medication.” (6)

A 2004 study by Benjamin H.S. Lau et al. mentioned, “Compared with subjects taking placebo, the group who took Pycnogenol(a pine bark extract) had significantly more improvement in pulmonary functions and asthma symptoms. The Pycnogenol®(a pine bark extract) group reduced or discontinued their use of rescue inhalers more often than the placebo group.”(7)

According to Stanford Medicine, some common side effects of pine bark extracts may include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, urinary retention, urinary frequency, constipation, and increased perspiration. (8)

Speaking to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Mrigakshi Aggarwal, Pulmonologist, Sanjeevan Hospital, Delhi, explained, “ The evidence suggesting that pine bark extract can aid in asthma management primarily comes from studies that have observed reduced symptoms and decreased reliance on conventional asthma medications among patients using the supplement. This indicates that pine bark extract might enhance the effectiveness of existing asthma treatments or reduce the severity of symptoms, making asthma attacks less frequent and intense. However, it's crucial to approach this supplement as an adjunct and addition to established asthma treatment protocols. The role of pine bark extract should not be to replace these foundational therapies but to possibly supplement them, enhancing overall disease management.”

Medical Dialogues Final intake:

Pine bark extracts have shown some health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties, which aid in treating asthma. Asthma is a complex condition with various triggers and underlying causes, and its management typically involves a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and avoiding triggers. . Hence, the claim that pine bark extract treats asthma is half true.

References:

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma.
2. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204-22.
3. Agrawal S, Pearce N, Ebrahim S. Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported asthma in an adult Indian population: a cross-sectional survey. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2013 Feb;17(2):275-82. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.12.0438. PMID: 23317966; PMCID: PMC4284294.
4. Li YY, Feng J, Zhang XL, Cui YY. Pine bark extracts: nutraceutical, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2015 Apr;353(1):9-16. doi: 10.1124/jpet.114.220277. Epub 2015 Jan 16. PMID: 25597308.
5. Grether-Beck S, Marini A, Jaenicke T, Krutmann J. French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol®) Effects on Human Skin: Clinical and Molecular Evidence. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2016;29(1):13-7. doi: 10.1159/000441039. Epub 2015 Oct 23. PMID: 26492562.
6. Belcaro G, Luzzi R, Cesinaro Di Rocco P, Cesarone MR, Dugall M, Feragalli B, Errichi BM, Ippolito E, Grossi MG, Hosoi M, Errichi S, Cornelli U, Ledda A, Gizzi G. Pycnogenol® improvements in asthma management. Panminerva Med. 2011 Sep;53(3 Suppl 1):57-64. PMID: 22108478.
7. Lau BH, Riesen SK, Truong KP, Lau EW, Rohdewald P, Barreta RA. Pycnogenol as an adjunct in the management of childhood asthma. J Asthma. 2004;41(8):825-32. doi: 10.1081/jas-200038433. PMID: 15641632.

8. https://med.stanford.edu/ppop/pinebark.html#:~:text=Safety%20of%20Pine%20Bark%20Extract&text=Common%20side%20effects%20may%20include,%2C%20constipation%2C%20and%20increased%20perspiration.