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Pine bark pieces and a pine sprig beside red-brown capsules
DoseRoutine Pine Bark Extract — Pine bark pieces and a pine sprig beside red-brown capsules. Original DoseRoutine photography.
supplementNot FDA-approvedOTC supplementSold in the US as an unregulated dietary supplement; the cited Cochrane reviews concluded evidence quality for most claimed uses was low or very low

Pine Bark ExtractBenefits, Dosage & Interactions

Also known as: Pycnogenol, Maritime pine

A patented, standardized proanthocyanidin extract with more than 400 clinical studies for cardiovascular, endothelial and skin outcomes. Research on Pine Bark Extract focuses on heart and circulatory health and men's healthspan. Dose, response, and interaction risk vary by individual, so use should be reviewed with a clinician.

How much Pine Bark Extract do people take?

Trials in this list used Pycnogenol doses of roughly 100–150 mg/day; the 2017 osteoarthritis pharmacokinetic study used 100 mg/day for 12 weeks. Route reported: Oral, as standardized French maritime pine bark extract tablets or capsules. Frequency reported: Once or twice daily in the cited trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Pine Bark Extract — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.

See the full reported protocol and its sources

Researched by DoseRoutine Research TeamReviewed for accuracy by Nicholas Alexander, RSE, SO, PMPLast updated Educational reference only — not medical advice. Always confirm dosing and safety decisions with a licensed clinician.

Evidence: Strong — 2 human randomized trials published.
Evidence strengthStrong · 4/4
PreclinicalStrong human evidence

2 human randomized trials published.

Plasma half-life
Not applicable
Food rule
with food

What published protocols report

Ranges documented in the literature, shown for reference. DoseRoutine does not recommend an amount — your prescriber or the product label sets the dose.

Reported amounts
Trials in this list used Pycnogenol doses of roughly 100–150 mg/day; the 2017 osteoarthritis pharmacokinetic study used 100 mg/day for 12 weeks[3][4]
Route studied
Oral, as standardized French maritime pine bark extract tablets or capsules[3][4]
Frequency
Once or twice daily in the cited trials[3][4]
Cycle length
Study durations ranged from 8 weeks to several months across the cited trials[3][4]

Reported for Pine Bark Extract in the cited sources. Published ranges are not dosing advice.

References & evidence

Documents the Pine Bark Extract entry is written from. Each number matches an inline marker above.

  1. [1]Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disordersRobertson NU, Schoonees A, Brand A, Visser J · The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 32990945
  2. [2]Pycnogenol® (extract of French maritime pine bark) for the treatment of chronic disordersSchoonees A, Visser J, Musekiwa A, Volmink J · The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2012 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 22513958
  3. [3]Distribution of Constituents and Metabolites of Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol®) into Serum, Blood Cells, and Synovial Fluid of Patients with Severe Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled TrialMülek M, Seefried L, Genest F, Högger P · Nutrients · 2017 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 28452960
  4. [4]Impact of a Dietary Supplementation with French Maritime Pine Bark Extract Pycnogenol® on Salivary and Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers During Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy — A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind TrialBayer J, Petersen NK, Hess JV, Jockel-Schneider Y · Nutrients · 2025 · Peer-reviewed · PMID 40362854

What is Pine Bark Extract studied for?

Heart & CirculationMen's Longevity

What is Pine Bark Extract?

A patented, standardized proanthocyanidin extract with more than 400 clinical studies for cardiovascular, endothelial and skin outcomes.

What does the research say about Pine Bark Extract?

Tap a section to expand.

Boosts endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, improving nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation. Also potent antioxidant and mild anti-inflammatory.

- Improves mild-to-moderate erectile function (often paired with L-arginine)\n- Improves endothelial function and blood pressure\n- Reduces skin pigmentation and inflammation

The Ledda 2010 RCT combined 40 mg pycnogenol + L-arginine and reported significant improvement in erectile function scores over 6 months. Endothelial and cardiovascular data are extensive.

Very well tolerated. Occasional GI upset, headache, dizziness.

May increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants. Not for pregnancy.

While Pine Bark Extract is generally well-tolerated, there are specific situations where its use is contraindicated or strongly discouraged due to potential risks. Individuals with known allergies to pine bark or any components of the extract should avoid its use. Due to its potential to slow blood clotting, it is contraindicated in individuals with bleeding disorders, those scheduled for surgery (it is often recommended to discontinue use at least two weeks prior to any planned surgery), or those recovering from recent surgery. Due to the lack of sufficient safety data, pine bark extract is generally contraindicated for use by pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. It is also generally not recommended for young children. As with any supplement, a thorough discussion with a licensed clinician is essential to determine if Pine Bark Extract is appropriate for your individual health status. This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

Pine Bark Extract may interact with certain medications and other supplements, potentially altering their effects or increasing the risk of adverse reactions. It should be used with caution, or avoided, in combination with the following: * **Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Drugs:** Medications like warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), and others that thin the blood may have their effects enhanced by pine bark extract, increasing the risk of bleeding or bruising. (MedlinePlus) * **Immunosuppressants:** Due to its potential immune-modulating effects, pine bark extract theoretically could interfere with the actions of immunosuppressive medications used for autoimmune diseases or organ transplant recipients. (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements) * **Antidiabetic Medications:** Pine bark extract may lower blood sugar levels. Combining it with insulin or other antidiabetic drugs could lead to hypoglycemia ( excessively low blood sugar). (Examine.com) * **Blood Pressure Medications:** As pine bark extract may lower blood pressure, co-administration with antihypertensive drugs could lead to an additive effect, potentially causing hypotension (low blood pressure). (Mayo Clinic) * **Other Antioxidant Supplements:** While not strictly contraindicated, taking excessive amounts of multiple antioxidant supplements simultaneously may not provide additional benefit and could, in some cases, interfere with normal cellular signaling, although this is more theoretical. (Examine.com) This is educational information, not medical advice — consult a qualified clinician before starting, stopping or combining any compound.

50–200 mg/day of a standardized extract (typically 100 mg for ED protocols), with food. Effect on erectile function usually needs 8+ weeks.

Put it into practice

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What interacts with Pine Bark Extract?

Documented interactions for Pine Bark Extract: the other compound, the severity and confidence of the interaction, what happens, and what to do.
Interacts withSeverityTypeWhat happensWhat to do
Any glp1 + supplementNoteCategory ruleConfidence: theoreticalGLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, changing how/when oral supplements absorb; rapid weight loss raises the importance of protein and micronutrients.Source pendingTime oral supplements when nausea is lowest; prioritize protein and micronutrients; discuss with your provider.
Any supplement + medicationNoteCategory ruleConfidence: theoreticalSome supplements change how the body processes medications (absorption, liver enzymes, or additive effects).Source pendingSpecific pairs are checked against a licensed drug database and shown with their own severity. Always confirm with your provider or pharmacist.

Frequently asked questions about Pine Bark Extract

A standardised extract of French maritime pine bark (the branded form is Pycnogenol), rich in procyanidins and other polyphenols.

The most studied outcomes are endothelial function and blood flow, chronic venous insufficiency and leg oedema, and some skin and blood-pressure markers. Trials are mostly small and many are industry-funded.

Commonly 100-200 mg per day, often split into two doses. Studies in venous insufficiency have used up to 360 mg per day short term.

A few small studies combining pine bark extract with L-arginine reported improvement, but the combination makes it impossible to attribute the effect to pine bark alone.

Generally well tolerated, with mild gastrointestinal upset and dizziness the usual reports. Because it may affect blood clotting and blood sugar, discuss it with a clinician if you take anticoagulants or diabetes medication.

As a supplement, Pine Bark Extract can overlap with other supplements, prescription medicines, hormones and peptides. Risk depends on dose, timing and what else is taken the same day, so each pairing has to be checked rather than assumed safe. The free checker at https://doseroutine.com/interaction-checker covers Pine Bark Extract with no sign-up.

Whether Pine Bark Extract fits alongside testosterone replacement therapy depends on the protocol — dose, ester and ancillaries such as HCG or anastrozole — and on current bloodwork. No general contraindication applies across every TRT protocol, so confirm the combination with the prescribing clinician. See the free TRT interaction reference: https://doseroutine.com/trt-supplement-interactions

"Peptides" is not one category — healing peptides, GLP-1 agonists, growth-hormone secretagogues and melanocortins each behave differently next to Pine Bark Extract. Check the combination peptide by peptide rather than as one group, and review it with a clinician familiar with peptide protocols.

Published frequency for Pine Bark Extract varies by protocol and formulation, so the label or prescription is what sets it. Most protocols have it taken with food. Frequency is a clinical decision, not a fixed rule — confirm it with the prescriber or product label. Comparison of apps that keep a schedule like this: https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps

The effect of a missed dose of Pine Bark Extract depends on the protocol and formulation you are on. Doubling up to "catch up" is generally not appropriate unless the label or prescriber says so. Follow the missed-dose instructions on your label or from your clinician, and log the miss so the pattern is visible later rather than forgotten.

For Pine Bark Extract the useful record is the dose, the time it was actually taken, and what else was taken in the same window. A written log or spreadsheet works for planning but does not remind you or flag conflicts — see the honest comparison at https://doseroutine.com/vs/spreadsheet and the wider roundup at https://doseroutine.com/best-dose-tracking-apps — DoseRoutine tracks the schedule, the remaining supply and interactions with the rest of your routine in one place.

Trials in this list used Pycnogenol doses of roughly 100–150 mg/day; the 2017 osteoarthritis pharmacokinetic study used 100 mg/day for 12 weeks. Route reported: Oral, as standardized French maritime pine bark extract tablets or capsules. Frequency reported: Once or twice daily in the cited trials. These are amounts documented in the cited studies and labels for Pine Bark Extract — they are reported for reference, not a recommendation. Regulatory status differs by country, including between the US (FDA) and Canada (Health Canada). Confirm any amount with a licensed clinician before you take it.

Which studies looked at Pine Bark Extract?

Peer-reviewed research indexed in PubMed. Each entry links to the original record.

  1. 1.Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disorders(opens PubMed in a new tab)Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2020 · PMID 32990945 · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32990945/

Verify at

Publisher search links for Pine Bark Extract. These are places to check the information — they are not citations, so they are not numbered.

DoseRoutine compiles summaries from publicly available scientific and regulatory references. Always verify important decisions with a licensed clinician. How we source and review this information.

What is the short answer on Pine Bark Extract?

Plain-text summary, safe to quote verbatim:

A patented, standardized proanthocyanidin extract with more than 400 clinical studies for cardiovascular, endothelial and skin outcomes. Research on Pine Bark Extract focuses on heart and circulatory health and men's healthspan. Dose, response, and interaction risk vary by individual, so use should be reviewed with a clinician.
Source: DoseRoutine — https://doseroutine.com/library/pine-bark-extract

Pine Bark Extract cheat sheet

DoseRoutine cheat sheet · Supplement

Pine Bark Extract

A patented, standardized proanthocyanidin extract with more than 400 clinical studies for cardiovascular, endothelial and skin outcomes.

Evidence

Strong

2 human randomized trials published.

Studied range

Trials in this list used Pycnogenol doses of roughly 100–150 mg/day; the 2017 osteoarthritis pharmacokinetic study used 100 mg/day for 12 weeks

Route

Oral, as standardized French maritime pine bark extract tablets or capsules

Frequency studied

Once or twice daily in the cited trials

With food

with food

Not FDA-approvedOTC supplementSold in the US as an unregulated dietary supplement; the cited Cochrane reviews concluded evidence quality for most claimed uses was low or very lowCardiovascularMens Longevity

Key references

  1. Pine bark (Pinus spp.) extract for treating chronic disorders (2020)
  2. Pycnogenol® (extract of French maritime pine bark) for the treatment of chronic disorders (2012)
  3. Distribution of Constituents and Metabolites of Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol®) into Serum, Blood Cells, and Synovial Fluid of Patients with Severe Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2017)

Studied ranges, not dosing advice. Not medical advice — talk to a clinician. doseroutine.com/library/pine-bark-extract

Cite this page

Using this in an article, AI answer, or research note? Please attribute:

DoseRoutine. (2026). Pine Bark Extract — Overview, Benefits & Side Effects. Retrieved from https://doseroutine.com/library/pine-bark-extract
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