Oligopin®: The New Hero in the Field of Bone Development

 The Exotic French Origins of Oligopin®

In the heart of southern France sits one of the largest plantation forests in Western Europe (1), the Landes de Gascogne, home to a seemingly endless row of maritime pine trees. When cultivated, these pine trees produce the most purified pine bark extract in today's market, known as Oligopin®.

Oligopin® is a red-brown powder extracted from the bark of the aforementioned French Marine Maritime Pine. Oligopin® consists mainly of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) (2), which are specific compounds used as a powerful antioxidant. OPCs can also be found in grape or tree bark extract and protect the body against the effects of ageing, such as joint swelling and poor vein function (3).

 Historical Uses of Oligopin®

 Vein Health

As a powerful antioxidant, one of the primary uses of Oligopin® has been to improve a person's vein health. Oligopin® works by expanding various constricted blood vessels, which helps to reduce the impact of varicose veins within a person's system (4). Studies have demonstrated the value of OPC's anti-inflammatory effect in reducing high levels of swelling that result from varicose veins (5).

 Cardiovascular Health

The rise of fast and fatty foods has resulted in a worldwide concern for high levels of cholesterol in individuals. Oligopin® can work to lower a person's overall cholesterol and blood pressure and improve heart function and capacity, making it a popular ingredient in health supplements. This effect was confirmed in a clinical study that recorded a 29% decrease in the level of Oxidized LDL and a 14% increase in HDL cholesterol (transporting of fat molecules around the body) in patients after five weeks of use. Both Oxidized LDL and HDL cholesterol are key markers of cardiovascular health (6).

 Skin Health

 The anti-ageing effects of OPCs have made Oligopin® increasingly valuable for improving overall skin health. Studies suggest that Oligopin® has the ability to improve skin elasticity and hydration. The high antioxidant levels of French Maritime Pine bark extract encourage blood flow, giving the skin improved defence against UV damage and leading to an overall reduction in wrinkles, skin pigmentation and swelling (7).

 New Study Linking the Future of Oligopin® to Bone Development

A recent study in 2020 was conducted by the MS Research Center, aimed at determining if Oligopin® has beneficial effects on oxidative stress (an imbalance between production and accumulation of reactive oxygen in cells and tissues) (8) for people suffering from Osteopenia (9) a health condition where a person's newly formed bones are weaker than normal (10). The study consisted of 43 postmenopausal women suffering from Osteopenia in a randomised, double-blind clinical trial, with half of them receiving 150 mg/day Oligopin® dosage.

Over a 12-week period, the results of the study revealed that women who were supplied with Oligopin® saw an increase in osteocalcin, a protein found in the bone and blood circulation (11), and type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide, a biomarker that monitors bone resorption (12), both of which are closely linked to bone turnover and regeneration. This indicated a reduction in oxidative stress, which the study notes to be a contributory factor in the development of osteopenia and its progression to osteoporosis (9).

Oligopin®, recognised for its natural antioxidant properties, may help alleviate oxidative stress by enabling the body to restore balance, thereby enhancing bone formation and resorption in individuals suffering from osteopenia. The potential future applications of Oligopin® could include the treatment of various bone development disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteonecrosis. 

 Final Thoughts

Even though Oligopin® has been historically used to help with vein, skin and heart health, this new study opens up a door of new potential for the future of Oligopin® in the field of bone development. Also, it should be noted that Oligopin® is available in supplement form with no reported adverse side effects. Oligopin® range of permitted indications makes it easily adaptable for different health markets.

If you are interested in using Oligopin® in your supplement products, please contact us at info@lipa.com.au. Lipa Pharmaceutical has reliable connections to Oligopin® supplies for supplement manufacturing, providing clients with access to the most purified pine bark extract currently available on the market.

Reference List

1. Chardin, P., n.d. France's Biggest Forest Was Planted by People. [online] Meridian. Available at: <https://www.meridian.net/france/2017/1/4/14166464/landes-forest-france> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

2. Purextract, n.d. Oligopin. [online] Purextract. Available at: <https://www.purextract.fr/produits/oligopin-pur-expert.html> [Accessed 10 March 2021]. 

3. Shi, J., Yu, J., Pohorly, J. and Kakuda, Y., 2003. Polyphenolics in Grape Seeds—Biochemistry and Functionality. Journal of Medicinal Food, [online] 6(4), pp.291-299. Available at: <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977436/> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

4. Mor, D. and Dande, P., n.d. VARICOSE VEINS: AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT AND HERBAL TREATMENTS | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH. [online] Ijpsr.com. Available at: <https://ijpsr.com/bft-article/varicose-veins-an-overview-of-current-and-herbal-treatments/?view=fulltext> [Accessed 10 March 2021]. 

5. Swati Vasant, B., Avinash Bhaskarrao, D. and Ravindra Bhanudas, S., n.d. THE WONDER OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINE. [online] Mchemist.com. Available at: <https://www.mchemist.com/ayas/pdf/13amla.pdf> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

6. Piriou, Y. and Luzecki-Michaud, N., 2019. New Cholesterol Markers: An innovative approach to the dietary supplement market - Purextract. [online] Purextract. Available at: <https://blog.purextract.fr/en/new-cholesterol-markers-an-innovative-approach-to-the-dietary-supplement-market/> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

7. Dridi, W. and Bordenave, N., 2020. Pine Bark Phenolic Extracts, Current Uses, and Potential Food Applications: A Review. Current Pharmaceutical Design, [online] 26(16), pp.1866-1879. Available at: <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048960/> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

8.Pizzino, G., Irrera, N., Cucinotta, M., Pallio, G., Mannino, F., Arcoraci, V., Squadrito, F., Altavilla, D. and Bitto, A., 2017. Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, [online] 2017(1), pp.1-13. Available at: <https://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2017/8416763/> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

9. Ziba Majidi , Mohammad Ansari , Zhila Maghbooli , Afsaneh Ghasemi , Shadi Sadat Seyyed Ebrahimi , Arash Hossein-nezhad , Solaleh Emamgholipour , Oligopin®Supplementation Mitigates Oxidative Stress in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Phytomedicine (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153417

10. Health, H., 2009. Osteopenia: When you have weak bones, but not osteoporosis - Harvard Health. [online] Harvard Health. Available at: <https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/osteopenia-when-you-have-weak-bones-but-not-osteoporosis> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

11. Webster, M., n.d. Medical Definition of OSTEOCALCIN. [online] Merriam-webster.com. Available at: <https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/osteocalcin> [Accessed 10 March 2021].

12. Cremers, S., Garnero, P. and Seibel, M., 2008. Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism. Principles of Bone Biology, [online] 1(1), pp.1857-1881. Available at: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123738844000203> [Accessed 10 March 2021]