Changes in muscle strength and endurance of professional cyclists due to PycnoRacerTM.

Only eight healthy male professional cyclists from one team were studied, so the results cannot be generalised to other cyclists or patients. There was no placebo or control group, so changes cannot be separated from normal training or expectation. Total cycling training work increased by 31.8%, and the authors could not tell whether the drink or the extra training explained the muscle changes. The drink contained several ingredients, so the effect of Pycnogenol alone cannot be identified. Training amount was judged only by total work, not by intensity or duration. No blood markers of inflammation or fatigue were analysed. The study was funded by the supplement company.

KOBAYASHI Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. funded the study. The authors declared no conflict of interest and stated that the funding source was not involved in research implementation, research design, and analysis.

Do not conclude that PycnoRacer caused the knee flexor gains. There was no control group or placebo, the cyclists increased total training work, and the drink contained Pycnogenol, leucine, arginine, isoleucine, and valine together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.