| ADHD or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | Pycnogenol showed a significant increase in |
| affects approximately 7.8% of the children in America | | | | motor-visual coordination and concentration. Those |
| and about 4.3% of these children are on medication | | | | who took placebo did not register any improvement in |
| for this disorder. ADHD greatly affects the quality of | | | | these areas. At the same time, a significant decrease |
| life of these children as well as their families. | | | | in hyperactivity and inattention was also noticed in |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | those children taking Pycnogenol supplement. |
| estimated that about 3,100 Americans were admitted | | | | The study concluded that Pycnogenol can help to |
| to emergency rooms each year due to stimulant | | | | reduce hyperactivity and improve attention, |
| drugs. Approximately 3.3 million Americans under the | | | | concentration and motor-visual coordination symptoms |
| age of 19 and 1.5 million Americans over the age of 20 | | | | in children with ADHD. |
| are also taking medications for ADHD. | | | | Pycnogenol is a natural plant extract from the bark of |
| Most of the medications used to treat ADHD can be | | | | the French maritime pine tree. It contains oligomeric |
| addictive and may also have side effects. Some | | | | proanthocyanidins (OPCs) as well as several other |
| common medications used to treat ADHD are | | | | bioflavonoids: catechin, epicatechin, phenolic fruit acids |
| stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, Dexedrine and Adderall. | | | | (such as ferulic acid and caffeic acid), and taxifolin. All |
| These drugs may cause depression, anxiety and | | | | these antioxidants are important and beneficial to us |
| irritability in some children. | | | | as it helps to eradicate free radicals and toxins from |
| The Department of Child Psychology at the Children | | | | our body and strengthen our immune system. |
| University Hospital in Slovakia conducted a study of 61 | | | | Parents concerned with the potentially dangerous side |
| ADHD children with age averaging 9½ years. | | | | effects from stimulant drugs could look to Pycnogenol |
| Forty-one children were given daily doses of | | | | as an alternative natural source of treatment for their |
| Pycnogenol supplement for a month while 16 children | | | | children with ADHD. Pycnogenol has also shown to be |
| were given placebo. | | | | non-addictive and so far no serious side effects were |
| After one month of treatment, those children who took | | | | reported on its consumption. |