Oligopin® Supplementation Mitigates Oxidative Stress in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Evidence indicates a close association between oxidative stress and the etiopathogenesis of osteopenia. In vitro and animal studies report that Oligopin (R), an extract of French maritime pine bark extract, has beneficial effects on oxidative stress. Purpose: Here, we aimed to determine whether supplementation with Oligopin (R) affects bone turnover markers, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress markers in these patients. Methods: Forty-three postmenopausal women with osteopenia were randomized in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial to receive either 150 mg/day Oligopin (R) (n = 22) or placebo (n = 21) for 12 weeks. Plasma levels of bone turnover markers; osteocalcin (OC), type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX-1), OC/CTX1 ratio along with total antioxidant capacity(TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, protein carbonyl, and total thiol contents in plasma, activities of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma as well as mRNA expression of MnSOD, catalase, and Nrf2 in PBMCs were measured at the baseline and the end of the intervention. Results: Oligopin (R) supplementation significantly increased OC levels and the ratio of OC to CTX1 in women with osteopenia compared to placebo intervention after 12 weeks. Oligopin (R) significantly decreased plasma protein carbonyl content in postmenopausal women compared with the after placebo treatment. Moreover, Oligopin (R) intervention significantly increased plasma total thiol content, TAC, plasma activity of both MnSOD and catalase, and the transcript level of Nrf2, MnSOD, and catalase in comparison with the placebo group. Conclusion: Supplementation with 150 mg/day Oligopin (R) for 12 weeks exerts beneficial effects in postmenopausal osteopenia through improving the antioxidant defense system in the plasma and PBMCs that was accompanied by an increase in indicators of bone turnover.