Pycnogenol supplementation effective for lipedema symptom reduction, new clinical trial demonstrates

Supplementation with Pycnogenol has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of lipedema, a new clinical trial shows.¹ Lipedema, the study explains, is a chronic disease characterized by abnormal fat accumulation, affecting primarily women, especially during hormonal changes, with negative physical and emotional impacts. Treatments for the condition are multidisciplinary and can include surgery, and there is a need for research on less invasive options, it adds. Pycnogenol, distributed by Horphag, is an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and has been shown to act on mechanisms of this disease, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular fragility. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study, “Impact of Pycnogenol® Use in the Treatment of Patients With Lipedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in Cureus in November 2025.

In an earlier placebo-controlled study, Pycnogenol was shown to improve cellulite score and improve skin roughness in women.²

Study design: quality of life and body composition

In this trial, 100 women, ages 18 to 40 years, with a diagnosis of lipedema received either 50 mg of Pycnogenol three times daily, or a placebo, for 60 days.

The main measurement of the study was quality of life using the QuASiL questionnaire. The questions covered symptoms of pain, fatigue, burning sensation, swelling, and satisfaction with appearance. The secondary outcomes were body composition, including weight, total fat percentage, and fat distribution, measured using tetrapolar bioimpedance.

Results: improvements in multiple scores

Quality of life and body composition differed significantly between the treatment group and placebo group by the end of the study.

Highlighted results include^1,2:

• The placebo group showed an increase in mean scores in the QuASiL questionnaire (indicating worsening symptoms) between 30 and 60 days, while the treatment group showed significant decreasing of scores during the same time
• Body weight was reduced in the treatment group over time, while it increased slightly in the placebo group
• Similarly, a slight decrease in BMI was seen in the treatment group, while a slight increase was seen in the placebo group
• Body fat increased in the placebo group between 30 and 60 days, and decreased slightly in the treatment group during this time

Further research should include multicenter studies and longer follow-up periods, the researchers added.

“In summary, the results of this study indicate that Pycnogenol® may represent an effective and safe adjuvant therapeutic alternative in the management of lipedema, contributing to the alleviation of symptoms such as pain, edema, cramps, and changes in body composition,” the researchers concluded. “Moreover, a positive impact on participants’ quality of life was observed, encompassing both physical and psychosocial benefits.”

Impact for lipedema treatments

Overall, the results indicated Pycnogenol could be a potential complementary therapeutic strategy for lipedema, an area which is lacking in treatment research.

“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,” stated Fred Pescatore, MD, in a December 9 press release from Horphag.³ “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.”

Pycnogenol has been studied for 40 years and is available in more than 1000 dietary supplements and health products globally, the press release adds.

References

1. Mello Netto, BS.; Corassa, J.; Barros, FS.; et al. Impact of Pycnogenol® Use in the Treatment of Patients With Lipedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus. 2025. 17(11): e96589. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96589
2. McEvoy, E. Clinical study shows Pycnogenol reduces cellulite in women. June 6, 2025. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/clinical-study-shows-pycnogenol-reduces-cellulite-in-women (Accessed 2025-12-09).
3. Horphag Research. Clinical Trial Shows Pycnogenol® Significantly Relieves Lipedema Symptoms and Improves Quality of Life in Women. December 9, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clinical-trial-shows-pycnogenol-significantly-relieves-lipedema-symptoms-and-improves-quality-of-life-in-women-302635853.html (Accessed 2025-12-09).