Pycnogenol (French Maritime Pine Bark) for the Treatment of Gulf War Illness

June 15, 2026 updated by: Jarred Younger, University of Alabama at Birmingham
The purpose of this research study is to determine how pycnogenol may reduce Gulf War Illness (GWI) symptom severity. The study will also examine the safety of this treatment and determine the optimal dosage. The investigators believe that GWI involves inflammation in the body and brain that causes fatigue, pain, cognitive disruption, and other symptoms. Botanicals that reduce inflammation may help treat GWI.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study uses a decentralized design where individuals can participate from anywhere in the Alabama. Botanicals will be received by mail. Participants will also receive placebo (capsules with an inactive substance) during the treatment phase of the study. All participants will have been present in the Persian Gulf between 1990 and August 1991. This study will be tested on GWI participants recruited in Alabama, with a total of up to 20 participants enrolled (to account for potential withdrawals to obtain 10 completed participants) for the entire study. Participation will last 12 months.

The first stage of the study is the baseline phase. During this time, participants will complete weekly questionnaires about symptom severity ratings but will not take any capsules. The baseline stage will last for 30 days.

After the 30-day baseline, the treatment stage will begin. Capsules will be taken once in the morning, and once before bed. This study is single-blind, meaning that participants will not know when placebo or pycnogenol are received. There are also four possible dosages for pycnogenol.

The capsules will be packaged to indicate the order in which they should be taken. The capsules will be packaged in blister packs and shipped to participants. The capsules are designed to look the same throughout the study, though the contents can change. This treatment stage is the longest, lasting 10 months.

During the treatment stage, participants will also be asked to complete weekly questionnaires about GWI symptoms. These weekly questionnaires will also ask about changes in symptoms and overall quality of life, as well as changes in physical and mental health. Questionnaires can be completed on a smartphone, computer, or tablet. If participants do not have an appropriate device, or do not want to use a personal device, a tablet can be sent for the study. A research team member will speak with participants to set up electronic device connections and will verify the information is received.

At the end of the treatment stage, participants will stop taking capsules and will complete the end line stage. This stage is the same as the baseline stage in which participants will complete weekly symptom measures without taking capsules. This stage will last for 30 days.

After completion of the study, participants will be told when placebo was received, and what dosage(s) of treatment were received. Participants will also be shown how GWI severity changes over time.

While this study is long, it is designed to not be a significant burden to daily life. On most days, participation (taking morning capsules, taking evening capsules, and completing weekly symptom severity reports) should take approximately 2 minutes.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Jarred Younger, PhD
  • Phone Number: 205-975-5821
  • Email: younger@uab.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35243
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jarred Younger, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meet the Kansas GWI case definition
  • Meet the CDC GWI case definition
  • Able to commit to a 12-month study
  • Male
  • Participants will be individuals in our Gulf War database who have already completed our other botanical trial, Curcumin, Resveratrol, and Stinging Nettle as Treatments for Gulf War Illness (NCT05377242).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently involved in another experimental treatment study
  • Female
  • Have a blood clotting disorder
  • Reported diagnosis of diabetes with a A1C greater than 9
  • Use of contraindicated medications (see below):
  • Anticoagulants (such as warfarin, heparin, etc.)
  • Lithium
  • Tacrolimus (Prograf)
  • Cancer medications (Alkylating agents, antitumor antibiotics, Topoisomerase I inhibitors, Tamoxifen)
  • Daily Use of Antiplatelet agents (e.g. aspirin, clopidogrel)
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Hypotension
  • Need for surgery during study period.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Participants Receiving Botanicals
Other: Placebo
The placebo being used in this study is microcrystalline cellulose. This will be taken orally, up to twice per day.
Other Names:
  • Microcrystalline Cellulose
Dietary supplement: Pycnogenol, 100mg
Pycnogenol being used in this study is a commercially available dietary supplement and is classified as food by the FDA instead of a drug. This will be taken orally, up to twice per day.
Other Names:
  • French Maritime Pine Bark
Dietary supplement: Pycnogenol, 200mg
Pycnogenol being used in this study is a commercially available dietary supplement and is classified as food by the FDA instead of a drug. This will be taken orally, up to twice per day.
Other Names:
  • French Maritime Pine Bark
Dietary supplement: Pycnogenol, 400mg
Pycnogenol being used in this study is a commercially available dietary supplement and is classified as food by the FDA instead of a drug. This will be taken orally, up to twice per day.
Other Names:
  • French Maritime Pine Bark
Dietary supplement: Pycnogenol, 600mg
Pycnogenol being used in this study is a commercially available dietary supplement and is classified as food by the FDA instead of a drug. This will be taken orally, up to twice per day.
Other Names:
  • French Maritime Pine Bark

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Physical Functioning Score of the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey
Time Frame: 12 months
This change will be measured using weekly surveys. Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey scores are standardized to a mean of 50 (SD = 10), with higher scores indicating better functioning; scores theoretically range from approximately 0 to 100.
12 months
Change in Mental Functioning Score of the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey
Time Frame: 12 months
This change will be measured using weekly surveys. Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey scores are standardized to a mean of 50 (SD = 10), with higher scores indicating better functioning; scores theoretically range from approximately 0 to 100.
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jarred Younger, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 5, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 15, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 30015456
  • UAB (Other Identifier: UAB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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