Introduction

One of the bestselling herbal products of the early 1990s was an extract of the bark of French maritime pine. This substance consists of a family of chemicals known scientifically as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) or procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs). Similar substances are also found in grape seed.

The modern use of OPCs is closely linked to an event in 1534, when a French explorer and his crew were trapped by ice in the Saint Lawrence River. Many of the men were saved from scurvy by a Native American who suggested they make tea from the needles and bark of a local pine tree. Over 400 years later, Jacques Masquelier of the University of Bordeaux came across this story and decided to investigate the constituents of pine trees. In 1951, he extracted OPCs from the bark of the maritime pine, and found that they could duplicate many of the functions of vitamin C. Later, he found an even better source of OPCs in grape seed, which is their major source in France today.

Like the anthocyanosides found in bilberry (to which they are closely related), OPCs appear to stabilize the walls of blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and generally support tissues containing collagen and elastin.^(1-4) OPCs are also strong antioxidants. Vitamin E defends against fat-soluble oxidants and vitamin C neutralizes water-soluble ones, but OPCs are active against both types.^5,6,7

Evidence suggests that OPCs can reduce the discomfort and swelling of varicose veins and decrease the edema (swelling) that often follows injury or surgery. On the basis of much weaker evidence, OPCs are also popular for preventing heart disease, revitalizing aging skin, and reducing the tendency toward easy bruising.

Sources

Like other flavonoids, OPCs aren't necessary for life, although they may prove to be important for optimal health.

OPCs aren't a single chemical, but a group of closely related compounds. Several food sources contain similar chemicals: red wine, cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, tea (green and black), black currant, onions, legumes, parsley, and the herb hawthorn. However, most OPC supplements are made from either grape seed or the bark of the maritime pine. Grape seed is the preferred source in France, where this supplement was originally popularized, and is a more economical source than pine bark.

Therapeutic Dosages

For use as a general antioxidant. much as you might use vitamin E or vitamin C  (see the articles on vitamins E and C), 50 mg of OPCs daily are sufficient. A higher dosage of 150 to 300 mg daily is generally used for treating specific diseases such as varicose veins. Grape seed OPCs are just as good and much less expensive than the maritime pine source.

Therapeutic Uses

The best-documented use of OPCs is to treat venous insufficiency, a condition closely related to varicose veins. It refers to the situation when blood pools in the legs, causing aching, pain, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, and unsightly visible veins. Fairly good preliminary evidence suggests that OPCs can relieve the pain and swelling of venous insufficiency.^(8,9,10) OPCs probably cannot make visible varicose veins disappear, but regular use might help prevent new ones from developing. Other approaches to varicose veins include horse chestnut, gotu kola, and bromelain. On the basis of their evidence for varicose veins, OPCs are often recommended as a treatment for hemorrhoids as well.

There is also some evidence that OPCs can be useful for the swelling that often follows injuries or surgery.^(11,12,13) OPCs appear to speed the disappearance of swelling, presumably by strengthening damaged blood and lymph vessels that are leaking fluid.

For similar reasons, OPCs may also be helpful for people who bruise easily due to fragile blood vessels.

Note: Keep in mind that there may be medical causes for easy bruising that require more specific treatment.

OPCs in cream form are a popular treatment for aging skin, on the theory that by repairing elastin and collagen they will return skin to a more youthful appearance. However, there is no solid evidence as yet that they are effective for this purpose.

On the basis of preliminary evidence, regular use of OPCs has been proposed as a measure to prevent cancer, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy (side effects of diabetes), heart disease, macular degeneration (the major cause of age-related blindness), as well as a treatment for allergies (hay fever), impaired night vision, and liver cirrhosis. However, much more research needs to be performed to discover whether these potential benefits are real.

What Is the Scientific Evidence for OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins)?

Considerable evidence tells us that OPCs protect and strengthen collagen and elastin, proteins found in cartilage, tendons, blood vessels, and muscle.^(14-19) There is also no question that OPCs are strong antioxidants, more powerful than either vitamin E or vitamin C by some measures.⁽²⁰⁾ The medicinal effects of OPCs are believed to be due to some combination of these properties.

Venous Insufficiency (Varicose Veins)

There is fairly good preliminary evidence for the use of OPCs to treat people with symptoms of venous insufficiency.

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of 92 subjects found that OPCs, taken at a dose of 100 mg 3 times daily, significantly improved major symptoms, including heaviness, swelling, and leg discomfort. ⁽²¹⁾ Over a period of 1 month, 75% of the participants treated with OPCs improved substantially. This result doesn't seem quite so impressive when you note that significant improvement was also seen in 41% of the placebo group; nonetheless, OPCs still did significantly better than placebo.

A placebo-controlled study that enrolled 364 individuals with varicose veins found that treatment with OPCs produced results superior to those of placebo.⁽²²⁾ Unfortunately, the rather incomplete report available on this study does not describe the statistical analysis of the results, nor whether physicians were blinded.

Finally, a double-blind study of 50 people with varicose veins of the legs found that doses of 150 mg per day of OPCs were more effective in reducing symptoms and signs than another natural treatment: the bioflavonoid diosmin, widely used in Europe for this condition.⁽²³⁾

Edema After Surgery or Injury

Breast cancer surgery often leads to swelling of the arm. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of 63 post-operative breast cancer patients found that 600 mg of OPCs daily for 6 months reduced edema, pain, and peculiar sensations known as paresthesias.⁽²⁴⁾ Also, in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 32 "face-lift" patients who were followed for 10 days, edema disappeared much faster in the treated group.⁽²⁵⁾

Another 10-day, double-blind placebo-controlled study enrolling 50 participants found that OPCs improved the rate at which edema disappeared following sports injuries.⁽²⁶⁾

Night Vision

One interesting, 6-week, controlled (but not blinded) study evaluated the ability of grape seed OPCs to improve night vision in normal subjects.^(27,28) In this trial of 100 healthy volunteers, those who received 200 mg per day of OPCs showed improvements in night vision and glare recovery as compared to untreated subjects.

Atherosclerosis

Although there are no reliable human studies, animal evidence suggests that OPCs can slow or reverse atherosclerosis.^(29-32) This suggests (but definitely does not prove) that OPCs might be helpful for preventing heart disease.

Safety Issues

OPCs have been extensively tested for safety and are generally considered to be essentially nontoxic.⁽³³) Side effects are rare, but when they do occur they are limited to occasional allergic reactions and mild digestive distress. However, maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.

OPCs may have some anticoagulant properties when taken in high doses, and should be used only under medical supervision by individuals on blood-thinner drugs, such as Coumadin (warfarin) and heparin.

Interactions You Should Know About

If you are taking Coumadin (warfarin), heparin, Trental (pentoxifylline), or aspirin, high doses of OPCs might cause a risk of excessive bleeding.

References

1. Schwitters B, et al. OPC in practice. Bioflavanols and their applications. Rome, Italy: Alfa Omega, 1993.
2. Masquelier J, et al. Stabilization of collagen by procyanidolic oligomers. Acta Ther 7: 101-105, 1981.
3. Masquelier J. Procyanidolic oligomers. J Parums Cosm Arom 95: 89-97, 1990.
4. Tixier JM, et al. Evidence by in vivo and in vitro studies that binding of pycnogenols to elastin affects its rate of degradation by elastases. Biochem Pharmacol 33: 3933-3939, 1984.
5. Facino RM, et al. Free radical scavenging action and anti-enzyme activities of procyanidines from Vitis vinifera. A mechanism for their capillary protective action. Arzneimittelforschung 44: 592-601, 1994.
6. Kuttan R, et al. Collagen treated with catechin becomes resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase. Experientia 37: 221-223, 1981.
7. Masquelier J, et al. Stabilization of collagen by procyanidolic oligomers. Acta Ther 7: 101-105, 1981.
8. Thebaut JF, et al. Study of endotelon in functional manifestations of peripheral venous insufficiency. Gazette Medicale 92: 12, 1985.
9. Henriet JP. Exemplary study for a phlebotropic substance, the EIVE study. On file with Primary Services International, Southport, Connecticut.
10. Delacroix P, et al. Double-blind study of endotelon in chronic venous insufficiency. La Revue de Medecine 27-28, 31, 1793-1802, 1981.
11. Pecking A, et al. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (endotelon) in the treatment of post therapeutic lymphedema in the upper limbs. Association de Lymphologie de Lange Francaise, Hopital Saint-Louis, 75010, Paris, France 69-73, 1989.
12. Baruch J. Effect of endotelon in post-surgical edemas. Ann Chir Plast Esthet 29(4): 393-395, 1984.
13. Parienti JJ, et al. Post traumatic edemas in sports: a controlled test of endotelon. Gaz Med France 90: 231-236, 1983.
14. Facino RM, et al. Free radical scavenging action and anti-enzyme activities of procyanidines from vitis vinifera. A mechanism for their capillary protective action. Arzneimittelforschung 44: 592-601, 1994.
15. Kuttan R, et al. Collagen treated with catechin becomes resistant to the action of mammalian collagenase. Experientia 37: 221-223, 1981.
16. Masquelier J. Procyanidolic oligomers. J Parums Cosm Arom 95: 89-97, 1990.
17. Masquelier J, et al. Stabilization of collagen by procyanidolic oligomers. Acta Therap 7: 101-105, 1981.
18. Schwitters B, et al. OPC in practice. Bioflavanols and their applications. Alfa Omega.Rome, Italy, 1993.
19. Tixier JM, et al. Evidence by in vivo and in vitro studies that binding of pycnogenols to elastin affects its rate of degradation by elastases. Biochem Pharmacol 33: 3933-3939, 1984.
20. Bagchi D, Garg A, Krohn RL, et al. Oxygen free radical scavenging abilities of vitamins C and E, and a grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in vitro. Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 95: 179-189, 1997.
21. Thebaut JF, et al. Study of endotelon in functional manifestations of peripheral venous insufficiency. Gazette Medicale 92: 12, 1985.
22. Henriet, JP. Exemplary study for a phleboteropic substance, the EIVE study. On file with Primary Services International, Southport, CT.
23. Delacroix P, et al. Double-blind study of Endotelon in chronic venous insufficiency. English abstract only. La Revue de Medecine 2728, 31: 1793-1802.
24. Pecking A, et al. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (Endotelons) in the treatment of post-therapeutic lymphedema in the upper limbs. English abstract only. Association de Lymphologie de Lange Frangaise, Htpital Saint-Louis, 75010, Paris, France 69-73, 1989.
25. Baruch J. Effect of Endotelon in post-surgical edemas. English abstract only. Ann Chir Plast Esthet 29 (4): 393-395, 1984.
26. Parienti JJ, et al. Post-traumatic edemas in sports: A controlled test of Endotelon. English abstract only. Gaz Med France 90 (3): 231-236.
27. Corbe C, et al. Light vision and chorioretinal circulation. Study of the effect of procyanidolic oligomers (Endotelon). J Fr Ophtalmol 11: 453-460, 1988.
28. Boissin JP, et al. Chorioretinal circulation and dazzling: Use of procyanidol oligomers. Bull Soc Ophtamol Fr 88: 173-174, 177-179, 1988.
29. Schwitters B, et al. OPC in practice. Bioflavanols and their applications. Rome, Italy: Alfa Omega, 1993.
30. Wegrowski J, et al. The effect of procyanidolic oligomers on the composition of normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbit aortas. Biochem Pharmacol 33: 3491-3497, 1984.
31. Uchida S, et al. Condensed tannins scavenge active free radicals. Med Sci Res 15: 831-832, 1987.
32. Gendre P. Effet protecteur des oligomeres procyandiloques sur le lathyrisme experimental chez le rat. Ann Pharm Fr 43(1): 61-71, 1985.
33. Schulz V, et al. Rational phytotherapy. New York: Springer Verlag, 1998: 283.

Source:Principal Health News