Does pycnogenol affect erectile dysfunction?

Preliminary research suggests that pycnogenol may reduce erectile dysfunction, particularly when combined with L-arginine.

In people with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, the combination of pycnogenol and L-arginine may improve several aspects of erectile dysfunction, including the ability to achieve and maintain an erection, intercourse satisfaction, and the ability to reach orgasm.^[1] While it’s less clear if pycnogenol is effective on its own, preliminary research suggests it may be.^[2]

The combination of pycnogenol and L-arginine is unique in that L-arginine is used as a building block for the synthesis of nitric oxide, and pycnogenol is thought to enhance the activity of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme responsible for producing nitric oxide.^[1]