The new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in The Cureus Journal of Medical Science, enrolled 100 women aged between the ages of 18 and 40 who had been diagnosed with lipedema—a condition causing an abnormal and painful build up of fat, especially in the lower body.
Conducted at a vascular health clinic in Vitória, Brazil, it represents one of the first clinical trials to evaluate a plant-based compound for managing lipedema symptoms.
Participants were monitored over a 60-day period, with half receiving Pycnogenol (50 mg, three times daily) and half receiving a placebo.
Researchers evaluated quality of life (QuASiL questionnaire), body composition and symptom severity at the start, midpoint and conclusion of the study.
Key findings included a 29% reduction in symptoms by day 60 in the supplemented women, while symptoms in the placebo group continued to worsen. The supplemented group also experienced significant relief across all reported symptoms: sensitivity, bruising, pressure, burning, cramps, heavy legs, swelling and itchiness.
Furthermore, participants in the supplement group experienced an 8% reduction in body fat compared to the placebo group over the 60-day test period and reported an improvement in satisfaction with leg appearance, as well as quality of life, with no adverse effects reported.
Supporting circulation
Lipedema disproportionately affects women, with an estimated 11% to 39% experiencing symptoms ranging from tenderness and easy bruising to a heavy, aching sensation in the legs. Because it often develops or worsens during hormonal changes like puberty, pregnancy or menopause, it can have lifelong consequences for physical and emotional health.
Despite its prevalence, there are currently no approved medications for the treatment of lipedema and no widely accepted medical standard of care. Most women rely on symptom-management strategies such as compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments, which can help but do not address the underlying condition.
The ingredient’s effects on lipedema reportedly stem from its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help strengthen blood vessel walls, improve microcirculation and support lymphatic flow. These effects are particularly relevant for lipedema, where impaired circulation contributes to chronic swelling and tissue discomfort.
“The lack of validated, accessible treatment options for women with lipedema often leaves them searching for alternatives that can meaningfully improve daily comfort and mobility,” said Dr. Fred Pescatore, natural physician and author on the study. “What makes these findings important is that Pycnogenol demonstrated measurable improvements in symptoms including pain and tenderness relief, body composition and emotional well-being. Patients with lipedema now have a safe, natural option that may help fill a long-standing treatment gap.”
The study noted potential limitations include the fact that patients resided in the same region and were treated in a single clinic. There were also a differences between groups in terms of initial body weight. Therefore multicenter studies are needed to confirm and validate the findings.
Building scientific backing
Available in more than 1,000 dietary supplements and health products worldwide, Horphag Research‘s Pycnogenol ingredient contains a unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and phenolic acids, which offer extensive natural health benefits, widely studied over the past 40 years with the ingredient found to support symptoms of menopause, endometriosis, skin health, fibromyalgia and more.
Previous studies have shown that Pycnogenol can aid in weight loss, primarily by improving glycolipid metabolism and promoting fat burning (lipolysis), as well as helping to control risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, such as abdominal obesity.
One of the mechanisms underlying this action involves the breakdown and release of fat stored in adipocytes (fat cells) through activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, which induces hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL).
Source: The Cureus Journal of Medical Science. doi: 10.7759/cureus.96589. “Impact of Pycnogenol Use in the Treatment of Patients With Lipedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial”. Authors: B.A.S., Mello Netto et al.