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