Evidence supporting the use of: Proanthocyanidins
For the health condition: Circulation (poor)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Proanthocyanidins, a class of polyphenols found in foods like grapes, berries, and pine bark (notably in standardized extracts like Pycnogenol), have been studied for their potential benefits on circulation. The evidence supporting their use for poor circulation is primarily scientific, though the strength of evidence is moderate rather than conclusive.
Several clinical trials have indicated that proanthocyanidin-rich extracts can improve various parameters of circulatory health. For example, studies on patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) have shown that proanthocyanidins can reduce symptoms like leg swelling, heaviness, and discomfort. The proposed mechanism involves strengthening capillary walls, reducing capillary permeability, and exerting antioxidant effects that protect vascular endothelium. Pycnogenol and grape seed extract, both rich in proanthocyanidins, have been reported to improve microcirculation and reduce edema in people with venous disorders.
However, while these findings are promising, the majority of clinical trials have been small and of varying quality. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews suggest beneficial effects, but often call for larger, high-quality trials to confirm efficacy and establish optimal dosages. Major health organizations do not yet universally endorse proanthocyanidins as a primary treatment for circulatory conditions, but they are commonly used as adjuncts or supplements in Europe and elsewhere for venous insufficiency and related issues.
In summary, there is scientific support for the use of proanthocyanidins in improving circulation, especially in conditions like CVI, but the level of evidence is moderate and further research is warranted.
Other ingredients used for Circulation (poor)
2-(nitrooxy)ethyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Acetyl L-carnitine
Achyranthes
Adrenergic amines
Ajoene
algal oil
Allicin
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-lipoic acid
amino acids
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
Angelica
anthocyanidins
anthocyanins
anthocyanosides
antler
Aralia
arginine alpha ketoglutarate
Arginine aspartate
arginine creatine
Arginine nitrate
Arginine silicate
arjun tree
arjuna
arjunic acid
Aronia melanocarpa
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
Asteraceae
astragaloside
astragalus
atractylodes
atractylone
Auricularia
Autumn elaeagnus
Bassia scoparia
bee products
beet
bergamot
berry
bilberry
bioflavonoids
biota seed
birch
bishop\'s weed
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black garlic
black ginger
black pepper
black tea
blackboard tree
blueberry
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
bromelain
Buckwheat
Buddha\'s hand
bupleurum falcatum
bur-reed
burdock
butcher's broom
Butea monosperma
Caesalpinia crista
caffeine
calycosin
capillary artemisia
capsaicin
capsaicinoids
capsicum
capsinoids
cardamom
carqueja
Carthamus
cat's claw
catecholamine
caterpillar mushroom
cayenne pepper
celery
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chen pi
cherry
chestnut
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
chocolate
chokeberry
cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
cistanche
Citrus
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coca
cocoa
Codonopsis
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cola nut
Coleus forskohlii
commiphora
cordyceps
costus
coumarin
cowherb
Curcuma
curcumen
curcumin
Curcuminoid
currant
cyanidin
d-alpha tocopherol
danshen
date
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
diallyl sulfide
diallyl trisulfide (DATS)
dioscorea
diosmetin
Diosmin
dismutase
dodder
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
dong quai
dong quai root
Echium
eicosapentaenoic acid
eleuthero
elk antler
enzymes blend (proprietary)
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
ephedrine
epicatechin
essential oil blend
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
Eupolyphaga sinensis
European five-finger grass
evodiamine
Fagopyrum
fatty acids
fish oil
fish protein
flat-stem milk-vetch
flavanols
flavanones
flavans
flavoglycosides
flavones
flavonoids
flavonols
flavonones
flaxseed
fo-ti
forskolin
fruit
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fungus
ganoderma
garlic
garlic bulb
gastrodia
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginkgo flavone glycoside
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glycoside
goji berry
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
Gypenoside
hawthorn
hazelnut
heal-all
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hesperetin
hesperidin
hibiscus
horse chestnut
horseradish
Huang hua
hydroxytyrosol
Hygrophila
icariin
Ilex
Indian bael
Indian kinotree
Indian tinospora
inositol nicotinate
inula racemosa
iron
jiaogulan
knotweed
kola nut
kudzu
L-arginine
l-carnitine
L-citrulline
Ligusticum
Ligustrazin
lingzhi
long pepper
lovage
lumbrokinase
mace
magnesium
mandarin
maral root
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Mate
Mistletoe
Monacolin
Monounsaturated fat
Morinda
Moringa
Mountain Pepper
Mulberry
Mushroom
Mustard
mustard seed
Naringin
Nattokinase
Nettle
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
Nutmeg
Oleuropein
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
onion
orange
Oxystelma
oyster mushroom
paeoniflorin
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
peony
Pepper
Phaeophyceae
Phenylpropanoids
Phthalides
pine bark
Piper chaba
Piper retrofractum
Piperine
Pistachio
policosanol
Polydatin
Polygonum
polyphenols
polyunsaturated fat
pomegranate
prickly ash
proanthocyanidins
procyanidin
procyanidol
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
Puerarin
punarnava
punicalagins
purslane
Pycnogenol
Pyrrosia
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rhizome
ribose
rockweed
Rosa roxburghii
rose hips
rosemary
Ruscogenins
Ruscus
rutin
Rutosides
S-allylcysteine
safflower oil
Salidroside
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
saponins
sarsaparilla
Schisandrins
seaweed
Serrapeptase
sesame
Sete sangrias
shiitake mushroom
Shilajit
Shogaol
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
siler root
smilax
Southern Tsangshu
Spatholobus
spinach
Sulfated polysaccharide
suma
Sumac
Sweet Orange alcohol
Szechuan lovage
Tanshinone
Taraxacum
Taxifolin
Taxillus chinensis
Tea
Terminalia
Theobromine
tocotrienols
Triphala
Triterpenes
Troxerutin
turmeric
ubiquinol
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vinburnine
Vincamine
vitamin B
vitamin E
Watercress
Watermelon
Withanolides
Wulinshen
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Xantinol Nicotinate
Xylaria nigripes
Yerba mate
Yohimbe
Yohimbine
zanthoxylum
Zingerone
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by proanthocyanidins
ArteriosclerosisBruises (healing)
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cardiovascular Disease
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Edema
Free Radical Damage
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hemorrhoids
Hypertension
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Osteoporosis
