Several supplements have been studied for Raynaud’s phenomenon.
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Pycnogenol: In a pilot trial comparing pycnogenol supplementation + standard therapy to standard therapy alone in women with primary Raynaud’s, pycnogenol supplementation significantly improved blood flow and reduced symptoms. Pycnogenol also improved tissue oxygen levels and reduced levels of biomarkers for oxidative stress.[1]
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Fish oil: Fish oil was shown in one study to improve cold tolerance and delay blood vessel constriction in people with Raynaud’s.[2]
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Essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6): In a cohort of healthy participants, daily supplementation with an essential fatty acid (EFA) supplement for 6 months reduced red blood cell aggregation. Since red blood cell aggregation has been implicated in worsening blood flow to the affected extremities in people with secondary Raynaud’s, the authors speculated that EFA supplements and/or fish oil might be useful for treating Raynaud’s.[3]
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Beetroot juice: Beetroot juice improved blood flow and blood vessel function and reduced inflammation in people with Raynaud’s.[4]
Additional supplements studied for treating Raynaud’s include L-arginine and N-acetylcystine (NAC). However, neither L-arginine[5][6] nor NAC[7] supplementation were found to improve blood flow in people with Raynaud’s.
References
- ^Hu S, Hosoi M, Belcaro G, Dugall M, Feragalli B, Cotellese R, Luzzi RManagement of mild, primary Raynaud Syndrome: supplementation with Pycnogenol®.Minerva Cardioangiol.(2019 Oct)
- ^DiGiacomo RA, Kremer JM, Shah DMFish-oil dietary supplementation in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon: a double-blind, controlled, prospective study.Am J Med.(1989 Feb)
- ^Ho M, Maple C, Bancroft A, McLaren M, Belch JJThe beneficial effects of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acid supplementation on red blood cell rheology.Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids.(1999 Jul)
- ^Shepherd AI, Costello JT, Bailey SJ, Bishop N, Wadley AJ, Young-Min S, Gilchrist M, Mayes H, White D, Gorczynski P, Saynor ZL, Massey H, Eglin CM"Beet" the cold: beetroot juice supplementation improves peripheral blood flow, endothelial function, and anti-inflammatory status in individuals with Raynaud's phenomenon.J Appl Physiol (1985).(2019 Nov 1)
- ^Khan F, Litchfield SJ, McLaren M, Veale DJ, Littleford RC, Belch JJOral L-arginine supplementation and cutaneous vascular responses in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.Arthritis Rheum.(1997 Feb)
- ^Khan F, Belch JJSkin blood flow in patients with systemic sclerosis and Raynaud's phenomenon: effects of oral L-arginine supplementation.J Rheumatol.(1999 Nov)
- ^Correa MJ, Mariz HA, Andrade LE, Kayser COral N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.Rev Bras Reumatol.(2014 Nov-Dec)