We might recommend OPCs for:

1. Retinal/Eye Disease
2. Vertigo
3. Idiopathic Vestibular disease
4. Head tilt
5. Brain Disorders
6. Epilepsy
7. Diabetes
8. Cancer
9. Certain geriatric conditions
10. General Antioxidant support

Proanthocyanidins are antioxidants that are widespread in nature. Their modern use as antioxidants dates to the maritime pine tree bark (Pinnus maritima). More recently, they have also been produced from an extract from grape seeds ("grape seed extract"). They are excellent antioxidants, at least 20 times more potent than Vitamin C in some situations.

The world first learned of their beneficial effects when a Frenchman, Jacques Cartier, led a party of explorers into what is now the St. Lawrence gulf in Canada, in 1535. The explorers were very sick at the time, suffering from symptoms of scurvy. Native Americans told them that they should drink a tea made from the Anneda tree (a relative of the Prunus maritima tree). This recommendation returned the explorers to vigorous health.

Proanthocyanidins can be called a bioflavonoid (the yellow-colored substances from plants). Bioflavonoids enhance absorption of Vitamin C, and are also both powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers. Some beneficial effects of bioflavonoids include strengthening capillaries and regulating their permeability. This may be why they help with retinal degeneration. They also help with ulcers, probably due to the same mechanism, and are effective with some cases of asthma. They have been documented to help with diseases such as bacterial infections, cancer, hypertension, viral infections, arthritis, diabetes, and many other disorders. Their antibacterial effect may be due entirely to their ability to strengthen cell wall membranes, and not by any direct antibacterial properties. Proanthocyanidins will pass the blood-brain barrier and nurture dysfunctional neurons.

Some people now believe that the Proanthocyanidins from pine bark (Pycnogenol®) are actually superior, and are more potent that from grape seeds. The research behind this recommendation comes mostly from French researchers, especially Professor Masquelier, who published studies from 1983-1993. These studies showed both sources to be effective, but that the Proanthocyanidins from grape seed were more bioavailable that from pine bark and better free radical scavengers. The OPC's from grape seeds are far less expensive than pine bark sources, which makes them more cost effective.

We offer both products to allow you to choose the one you prefer. No matter what source one employs to produce Proanthocyanidins, the caretaker needs to be aware that these are complex phytochemicals having a large number of different compounds in each of the various products. It is likely that certain disorders would respond better to one source of Proanthocyanidins, while a different disorder to another one.