02/20/2026
Pycnogenol Study #3, Low Antioxidant Status in ADHD
⚡ 222% Higher DNA Damage in ADHD, Targeted Antioxidant Support Shows Measurable Improvement ⚡
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined oxidative stress in children with ADHD and whether Pycnogenol® (French maritime pine bark extract) could influence it.
Here’s what researchers found:
🔬Children with ADHD had markedly higher DNA damage at baseline.
Total DNA damage was 222% higher in children with ADHD compared to healthy controls (198.5 vs 61.7, p < 0.001), indicating significantly elevated oxidative stress.
🧬 Pycnogenol reduced oxidative DNA damage by 26% in just one month.
Levels of 8-oxoG, a marker of oxidative DNA injury, decreased from 0.558 to 0.412 (−26%).
Compared to placebo, oxidative damage was 35% lower after treatment. The placebo group showed no meaningful change. After stopping supplementation, levels rose again, suggesting continued use is required to sustain the effect.
🛡 Antioxidant status improved.
Total Antioxidant Status increased by approximately 6% from baseline, reflecting improved redox balance.
📊 These biological improvements were linked to behavioral changes.
In the companion randomized clinical trial conducted by the same research team, children taking Pycnogenol experienced approximately 30–35% reductions in teacher-rated inattention and hyperactivity after one month.
In this oxidative stress study, the strongest statistical correlations were with inattention, meaning children who had the greatest reductions in oxidative DNA damage also showed the greatest improvements in attention.
📌 What this suggests:
In this cohort, ADHD was associated with elevated oxidative stress, and targeted antioxidant support reduced oxidative DNA damage in a measurable way, changes that were meaningfully associated with improvements in attention. (study in comments below)
Yours in health,
Dr. Chris Caffery
URL: www.drcafferyintegrativehealth.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCaffery
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