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.