Pycnogenol and L-arginine For Moderate ED

This week’s blog post comes from one of my male clients who asked me about Pycnogenol and L-arginine for ED issues. Now the ED does not stand for Education but Erectile Dysfunction. My client had seen an article about this combination of Pycnogenol and L-arginine providing positive benefits in this area and wanted to know my thoughts.

The first thing I did was Google the word combination: pycnogenol and l-arginine

And to my surprise there was a peer reviewed clinical study in this area. Here’s the study and a brief summary of the results (click on the title of the study to see the actual summary on PubMed.)

Treatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L-arginine

The study included 40 men between the ages of 25-45 with mild ED. This study was a 3-month trial that progressively stepped up the combination of pycnogenol and L-arginine.

During month one each person consumed 1.7 grams of L-arginine aspartate per day. The result was a 5% increase in having a normal erection.

During month two each person added to the 1.7 grams of L-arginine a supplement containing 40 mg of Pycnogenol twice per day. The result was an 80% increase in having a normal erection.

During month three the Pycnogenol was increased to 3 daily doses. There was a 92.5% increase in normal erectile function. All without any side effects.

Additional Observations about Pycnogenol and L-arginine

My first observataion was the low amount of L-arginine used in the study. L-arginine is converted by the endotehlium to nitric oxide.

A male cannot have an erection without nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes the smooth muscle of the vascular wall causing vasodilation for improved blood flow. If you’re only using L-arginine, then this improved blood flow is short lived. Maybe 30 minutes to 2 hours and then you return to your baseline levels of nitric oxide.

My second observation was the use of L-arginine aspartate. This is an amino acid chelate, which combines the L-arginine with icariin, a flavoniod compound used in Chinese herbal medicine.

This reduces the amount of actual L-arginine coming into your system. But it also introduces another ingredient that is important for a male to maintain an erection. That ingredient disables the enzyme commonly known as PDE5 that causes vasoconstriction.

Without PDE5 operating in the male organ men would walk around all day long with an erection. Not very comfortable or acceptable.

As it turns out icariin is a natural way to block the enzyme PDE5, which enables the male to hold the erection. Viagra uses a chemical to disable this PDE5 enzyme.

Here is one of my videos to help you better understand how this process works:

Pycnogenol Increases Nitric Oxide Production

Now in the study above there was little improvement with just the use of L-arginine aspartate. But when Pycnogenol was introduced the results were dramatic.

Pycnogenol is a trademarked ingredient called French maritime pine bark extract.

Like pomegranate fruit concentrate, Pycnogenol stimulates enzymes of the endothelium, which lines all of your cardiovascular system, to produce higher levels of nitric oxide from the amino acid L-arginine. When this happens there is sufficient nitric oxide to start the erection and the icariin can now block the enzyme responsible for causing the erection to go away.

By having all three ingredients present you can work both sides of the equation allowing men to experience normal erections.

Another Article About Pycnogenol and L-arginine

If you’re interested in an additional article that goes into even greater depth and detail, then I would recommend the following article from LifeExtension magazine. Click on the title below to read about 4 additional studies in this area, all showing excellent results in helping men address sexual health issues.

A Natural Approach to Erectile Dysfunction that Improves Vascular Health

This article and these studies once again confirm that when you give your body the natural ingredients that it needs, it can correctly many of its health issues. And do it without drugs and their side effects.

Blessing Lives Thru Nitric Oxide Therapy

Dan Hammer