2007年10月17日
碧萝芷®可激发人体一氧化氮生成
New Study: Pycnogenol® Boosts Nitric Oxide (NO)

        研究表明，碧萝芷®可以在保健范围内激发一氧化氮的生成，改善血液的流动性，增强对肌肉组织的氧供应
        Research shows Pycnogenol® boosts healthy NO production, increasing blood flow, muscle oxygen supply

        即将在10月份《高血压病研究》杂志上刊登的文章报道了碧萝芷®，一种提取自法国沿海松树树皮的抗氧化提取物，可以通过一氧化氮的合成水平改善患者的血流和肌肉供氧。
        GENEVA, Switzerland – A study to be published in the October edition of Hypertension Research reveals Pycnogenol®, (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, helps individuals by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) production which leads to an increase in blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles.

        一氧化氮是人体自身合成的一种重要血液化学成分，可以通过改善血液的流动性，进而向肌肉输送更多的养分和氧，帮助肌肉适应更大的人体活动量以及体力消耗。
        Nitric oxide, a key cardiovascular chemical produced by the body, increases blood flow that serves to deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, helping muscles to cope with increased physical activity and build when subjected to regular elevated labor.

        “这项实验表明，服用碧萝芷®后，人体会根据神经传递素的指示合成NO，使动脉可以更大限度的舒张，输送更多的血液。这一过程正好符合了肌肉在工作状态下对更多的氧的需求，同时可以避免厌氧代谢，”实验的主要负责人Yukihito Higashi博士说。“这一实验结果使我得到了启发，碧萝芷®可能会成为一种有效的纯天然替代治理药物，治疗那些氧化压力是致病原因之一的疾病。
         “This study suggests that when taking Pycnogenol®, more NO is provided in response to neurotransmitters allowing for better expansion of arteries to carry more blood. This process serves to meet the enhanced oxygen demand of the performing muscle and avoid anaerobic metabolism,” said Dr. Yukihito Higashi, lead researcher of the study. “These results also lead me to determine that Pycnogenol® will be a useful natural alternative therapy in various diseases in which oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis.”

        这项双盲的，随机的，由安慰剂组对比的实验在日本Hiroshima大学生物医药学研究生院完成。健康的男性受实验者连续两周每日服用180mg碧萝芷或者安慰剂。为了检测碧萝芷®对一氧化氮释放的影响，受实验者接受注射了，可以限制神经传递素acytelcholine（acytel胆碱）刺激下动脉舒张的，氨基酸L-精氨酸抑制剂。
         The double-blind, randomized, placebo study was held at the Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Japan. Every day for two weeks young healthy men either took 180 mg Pycnogenol® or a placebo. To identify Pycnogenol®’s effect on the release of NO, an inhibitor of the amino acid L-arginine was infused in patients, which restricts the expansion of arteries in response to the neurotransmitter acytelcholine.

        服用2周碧萝芷®之后，血液的流动性在acytel胆碱的刺激下提升了42%。相比之下，服用安慰剂的对照组的受实验者，在受到神经传递素刺激后，血液的流动性没有发生明显的变化。
         After two weeks of supplementation with Pycnogenol®, results revealed blood flow increased in response to acetylcholine stimulation by 42 percent. In contrast, the control group receiving the placebo did not show a pronounced blood flow increase in response to neurotransmitter stimulation.

        “Acytelcholine刺激动脉细胞更快速地通过L-精氨酸合成NO，”Higashi博士说。“反过来，NO又会进一步使肌肉周边动脉得到放松，这就使得周边的血流得到了改善。在受实验者服用碧萝芷®后，动脉的舒张程度与服用安慰剂的对比组相比可以增加42%。”
         “Acetylcholine stimulates the cells of arteries to produce NO from L-arginine faster,” Dr. Higashi said. “In turn, the NO causes the muscle surrounding arteries to relax, which results in an increase of blood vessel diameters. When subjects had taken Pycnogenol® the relaxation of arteries was increased by 42 percent as compared to the group taking placebo tablets.”

        碧萝芷®产品在全球范围的分销商贺发研究公司的科技交流部主任Frank Schönlau博士介绍道，“有大量的实验证明，这对运动员来讲是一项突破性的进展，因为碧萝芷®可以通过提供肌肉足够的氧，并且增加血液向运动肌肉的供应，来加快人体的运动速度。当人体进行大负荷运动时，神经会向负责向肌肉组织供血的动脉发送神经传递素Acytelcholine，使动脉放松，这一过程需要增加NO数量进行配合。
         According to Frank Schönlau, Ph.D, director of scientific communications for Horphag Research, worldwide distributors of Pycnogenol®, “While more research is warranted, this is an encouraging breakthrough especially to athletes as Pycnogenol® seems to allow people to move faster when exercising by satisfying the enhanced muscle oxygen demand and increasing the blood flow to active muscles. When people are performing heavy physical activity, nerves release neurotransmitter acetylcholine to arteries supplying muscles, which makes them expand, a process that requires enhanced production of NO.”

        有大量的碧萝芷®与运动营养方面的实验正在进行中。最近，一年前，碧萝芷®经证实可以改善血液循环并在任何活动中都可以延长肌肉有氧运动的时间，可以通过减缓肌肉痉挛和疼痛提高运动员的运动成绩。简而言之，碧萝芷®可以有效提高并延长运动中肌肉的活动能力，使肌肉可以适应更大强度的负荷并加快人体的恢复速度。
         A multitude of studies about Pycnogenol® and sports nutrition have been conducted. Most recently, a year ago, Pycnogenol® was demonstrated to improve blood circulation and support a lasting aerobic muscle activity during any kind of activity and enhance sports endurance by alleviating cramping and muscular pain in athletes. In short, Pycnogenol® is effective for enhancing and prolonging muscle performance during sport, supports muscle adaptation to higher work-load and allows for faster physical recovery.