Menopause is a natural stage of life, yet many of us arrive feeling unprepared, unsure of how to support ourselves and faced with a confusing range of options.
At Arella, we’re passionate about helping women feel informed and supported through all life stages, and that includes providing clear insight into the ingredients that may help you manage common menopause symptoms and protect your long-term wellbeing.
In this series, we’re lifting the lid on some of the most powerful ingredients in our menopause supplement to help you understand how they can support your body through this next phase of your life.
We’re starting with pine bark extract and will explain what it is, how it works, and the benefits it may offer during menopause.
What Is Pine Bark Extract?
Pine bark extract, as the name suggests, is produced from the bark of certain pine trees.
The extract is naturally rich in plant compounds called polyphenols, including procyanidins, catechins and phenolic acids. These compounds have antioxidant properties that help protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.
Pine bark extracts can differ considerably depending on the species, growing conditions and extraction process. Much of the clinical research has used Pycnogenol®, a proprietary French maritime pine bark extract standardised to contain a consistent concentration of procyanidins.
How Could Pine Bark Extract Support Women in Menopause?
Changing hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause can affect the body in many different ways.
Symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, sleep difficulties, mood changes, tiredness, brain fog, headaches, joint discomfort and vaginal dryness.
Research on standardised French maritime pine bark extract suggests it may help with several of these symptoms.
Let’s take a look at how.
May Help Reduce Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
Hot flushes and night sweats are among the most recognisable menopause symptoms. They happen as changing hormone levels affect the part of the brain that controls body temperature.
A 2013 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed 170 perimenopausal women for three months. Participants received either 60mg of Pycnogenol® each day or a placebo.
The researchers used two established questionnaires to assess menopause symptoms. By the end of the study, the pine bark extract group showed a greater reduction in overall symptom scores than the placebo group.
Participants reported improvements in vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats.
This supports earlier findings from a six-month trial involving 200 perimenopausal women. Of the 155 women who completed the study, those taking the standardised pine bark extract reported improvements in the frequency and severity of symptoms measured by the Women’s Health Questionnaire, including vasomotor symptoms.
Could Support Sleep and Energy Levels
Sleep can become frustratingly difficult during menopause. Night sweats may wake you repeatedly, while anxiety, physical discomfort and changing hormone levels can all make it harder to fall or stay asleep.
The 2013 clinical trial found that women taking standardised French maritime pine bark extract experienced improvements in sleep problems and fatigue compared with those taking a placebo.
A separate eight-week controlled study compared 38 women taking 100mg of Pycnogenol® for menopause each day with 32 women who didn’t take the supplement. Participants taking the extract reported reductions across a range of menopause symptoms, including fatigue.
However, improvements in sleep and energy may be connected to changes in other symptoms. For example, fewer night sweats may make it easier to sleep and leave you feeling less tired the next day.
May Help With Mood and Brain Fog
Many women notice changes in their mood, memory and concentration during perimenopause, which can leave them feeling like they’re no longer themselves.
Poor sleep and persistent physical symptoms can make these difficulties feel even more pronounced.
In the six-month trial, participants taking 200mg of Pycnogenol® each day reported improvements in mood, anxiety, memory, and concentration.
This is another reason we’ve included pine bark extract in Arella Pause, as it can contribute to a broader sense of wellbeing during menopause.
Provides Antioxidant Support
As oestrogen levels decline during menopause, the body may lose some of its natural protection against free radicals.
Research has found that menopause is associated with increased oxidative stress, which occurs when the body produces more free radicals than its antioxidant defences can manage.
This imbalance can damage proteins, fats, and DNA within our cells and, over time, may also contribute to inflammation and affect the health of the skin, bones, blood vessels, and other tissues that can become more vulnerable after menopause.
Pine bark extract is rich in procyanidins and other polyphenols that help neutralise free radicals before they cause cellular damage.
According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, these compounds may also support the body’s own antioxidant defences by increasing glutathione levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
This effect has been observed in clinical research; in the six-month study of perimenopausal women, those taking standardised French maritime pine bark extract experienced an increase in total antioxidant status. The smaller eight-week study also recorded reduced markers of oxidative stress.
Pine bark extract’s antioxidant activity offers broader support during menopause by helping protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage and supporting the body as it manages one of the biological changes associated with declining oestrogen levels.
May Support Healthy Circulation
Pine bark extract has also been studied for its effects on blood vessels and circulation.
Its plant compounds may encourage nitric oxide production, which helps blood vessels relax and supports healthy blood flow.
The six-month perimenopause trial found small improvements in blood pressure and the balance between LDL and HDL cholesterol among women taking Pycnogenol®.
Maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, avoiding smoking and attending recommended health checks remain important during and after menopause.
Always speak to your GP if you are concerned about your blood pressure, cholesterol or cardiovascular health.
How Long Does Pine Bark Extract Take to Work for Menopause?
The menopause studies assessed participants after periods ranging from eight weeks to six months.
As with any supplement, give your body time to respond and stay consistent. Your experience will also depend on the type and severity of your symptoms.
Arella Pause includes pine bark extract, along with other helpful ingredients like sage, red clover extract, B vitamins, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and more.
Our customers report changes in as little as 4-8 weeks of consistent use.
Always track how you feel, and speak to a healthcare professional if your symptoms are severe, worsening, or affecting your daily life.
Up next, read our guide on the best time of day to take menopause supplements.
Support Your Body Through Every Stage of Menopause
Research suggests that pine bark extract can support women experiencing hot flushes, night sweats, fatigue, sleep disruption and other common menopause symptoms.
It is one of several carefully selected ingredients in our award-winning Arella Pause, alongside sage, red clover, cinnamon and essential vitamins and minerals.
Together, they provide easy, convenient daily nutritional support before, during, and after menopause.
Arella Pause also proudly carries the MTick®, GenM’s certification for menopause-friendly products, giving you added confidence that it meets strict criteria for supporting one or more of the 48 signs of menopause.
Did you know many of our customers combine Arella Pause and Arella Collagen? They’re a powerful duo to support your wellbeing as you age. Shop the bundle here.
FAQs
Does Pine Bark Extract Affect Oestrogen Levels?
Pine bark extract doesn’t replace oestrogen or act as a phytoestrogen.
Is Pine Bark Extract Safe?
Pine bark extract was generally well tolerated in menopause studies, with no serious adverse effects reported. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking it if you take medication, have a health condition, or have an allergy.
Can You Take Pine Bark Extract With HRT?
Research suggests that pine bark extract doesn’t alter oestrogen levels, but menopause supplements may contain other active ingredients. Arella Pause is generally safe to take alongside HRT, but if you’re taking HRT or other medication, speak to your GP or pharmacist before use.
