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Lee Swanson Research Update

Lee SWanson, President Swanson Vitamins

Dear Friends and Valued Customers,

A new study has made further inroads in the battle against osteoarthritis. Researchers in Germany and Italy joined forces to investigate the use of French maritime pine tree bark (Pycnogenol®) as a means to reduce one of the markers of inflammation in the body.

It appears that Pycnogenol can help reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood serum. CRP is a protein produced by the liver during periods of inflammation in the body. In fact, the level of CRP in the body is used as an indicator of acute inflammation, such as that associated with osteoarthritis.

This development comes on the heels of a previous double-blind, placebo-controlled study initiated by the same group. That study evaluated the efficacy of a three-month treatment of Pycnogenol in a group of 156 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. In that study, Pycnogenol significantly decreased joint pain and improved joint function.

In the current study, the researchers found that Pycnogenol decreased CRP levels and also significantly reduced plasma free radicals. My report on the new study can be found below.

In another recent study, scientists found a shortage of vitamin D in young type 1 diabetics. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. With type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy. Read about this vitamin D deficiency in my second report.

As always, I wish you the very best of health.