Do any supplements help for varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency?

Answer:

Varicose veins are swollen, bluish veins that are visible just under the skin. They are caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves. These can occur due to heredity and aging, as well as from high blood pressure, periods of sitting or standing for long periods of time, weight gain, and pregnancy. For some people, the appearance of varicose veins may be of cosmetic concern only, but for others, they may result from venous insufficiency (CVI) or other circulatory disease, which may affect both superficial and deeper veins, and cause symptoms such as leg swelling and nighttime leg cramps (NIH 2023).

Supplements that may help

Pycnogenol (pine bark extract)

Pycnogenol is a branded extract from the bark of French maritime pine promoted for various uses due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are thought to derive, in part from oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) found in pine bark. There is some preliminary evidence that Pycnogenol may reduce the appearance of varicose veins or improve symptoms of veinous insufficiency, but keep in mind that most of these studies have been company-funded.

A small study in adults with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency found that daily supplementation with 150 mg of Pycnogenol for at least 3 months prior to surgery to remove varicose veins significantly reduced the stretching and dilation of the veins when they were tested after removal, compared to veins from adults who did not take the supplement (Belcaro, Int J Angiol 2014). A dose of 100 mg of Pycnogenol per day for 6 months was also reported to reduce the number of varicose veins caused by pregnancy compared to treatment with compression stockings; however, this study was not blinded (the women chose which treatment they wanted to receive) and did not include a placebo — making these results less reliable (Belcaro, Int J Angiol 2017).

A daily dose of between 150 and 300 mg of Pycnogenol may reduce leg swelling and pain in people with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition which causes blood to pool in the legs. One clinical study of people with CVI found that 100 mg of Pycnogenol taken three times per day for one month significantly reduced swelling, heaviness and pain in the legs compared to placebo (Arcangeli, Fitoterapia 2000). After two months of treatment, almost 60% of the people taking Pycnogenol had no leg swelling or pain; however, there was no change in venous blood flow.

Taking 300 mg of Pycnogenol (as six 50-mg tablets per day) for four days then 150 mg (three tablets) per day for three days, alone or along with a topical Pycnogenol cream (0.5%), was shown to reduce acute symptoms (including bleeding) of hemorrhoids (a type of varicose vein) compared to compared to placebo, with the combination of Pycnogenol tablets and cream being more effective than oral Pycnogenol supplementation alone (Belcaro, Phytother Res 2010).

For more information, see our article about the safety and potential health benefits of Pycnogenol and other pine bark extracts.

(Bilberry supplements, which contain compounds similar to the OPCs found in pine bark extract which are thought to be responsible for some of its effects, have been suggested to treat varicose veins, but currently there is little evidence to support this use.)

Grape seed extract

Several small studies suggest that grape seed extract can help reduce symptoms of venous insufficiency (causing leg swelling), as well as swelling after surgery (such as arm swelling after breast cancer surgery), but larger studies are needed to confirm these benefits (Martinez-Zapata, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; Baruch, Ann Chir Plast Esthet 1984).

Horse chestnut extract

Horse chestnut exact contains an anti-inflammatory compound (aescin or escin) that has shown some benefit for reducing leg swelling symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, possibly by inhibiting certain enzymes thought to play a role in blood cell and fluid accumulation.

A 12-week study in Germany among 240 men and women with chronic venous insufficiency found that taking 1 capsule of horse chestnut extract containing 50 mg of aescin, twice daily, was as effective in reducing edema (swelling) as treatment with compression stockings (class II stockings worn for 12 weeks, in addition to treatment with a diuretic in the first week to ensure a proper fit) compared to placebo. Lower leg volume decreased by 43.8 mL and 46.7 mL, among those who took horse chestnut extract or wore compression stockings, with no significant difference between groups, compared to a slight increase (9.8 mL) in lower leg volume among those who took a placebo (Diehm, Lancet 1996). A review of this study and 16 other clinical trials (10 of which were placebo-controlled) concluded that taking horse chestnut extract (typically standardized to 20% aescin, and providing a daily dose of about 100 to 150 mg aescin per day), for up to 16 weeks may reduce leg swelling, leg pain, and itchiness, in people with chronic venous insufficiency (Pittler, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012).

Side effects from horse chestnut extract, including gastrointestinal complaints, dizziness, nausea, headache, and itchiness, reported in the studies above were general mild and infrequent. However, be aware that some people may be allergic to horse chestnut, and horse chestnut extracts may interact with certain medications. Also, never consume whole or raw horse chestnuts (as opposed to extracts), or bark, flowers or leaves from the horse chestnut tree, as these contain a toxic compound that has serious adverse effects and, in some cases, can be fatal. For more information, see our article about the side effects and safety of horse chestnut.

Gotu kola

There is preliminary evidence that gotu kola (Centella asiatica) can help reduce symptoms of venous insufficiency, but higher quality research is needed to prove a benefit. It’s not known if gotu kola reduces the appearance of varicose veins.

A review of eight clinical trials (seven of which were placebo-controlled) lasting from one to three months concluded that 60 to 120 mg of gotu kola per day (taken in divided doses, two to three times daily), reduced leg pain, heaviness, and swelling in people with chronic venous insufficiency, venous hypertension, and related conditions, compared to placebo. Only one study seemed to include the appearance of varicose veins as an outcome measure, but it’s not clear there was any benefit (Nyuk, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013). However, due to the low quality and/or limitations of some of these studies, such as a lack of blinding or quantifiable data for certain measures, the researchers noted that higher quality studies are needed to prove a benefit.

In clinical studies, daily doses of gotu kola of up 750 mg of extract or 12,000 mg of gotu kola powder taken for up to six months have been well tolerated, with occasional gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and stomach pain reported (Puttarak, Sci Rep 2017; Brinkhaus, Phytomedicine 2000). However, liver damage has been reported in some people, and the safety of taking gotu kola while pregnant or nursing has not been established. Also, be aware that gotu kola may have a sedative effect. For more details, see our article about the safety and side effects of gotu kola.

Citrus bioflavonoids

Citrus bioflavonoids are compounds such as hesperidin, quercetin, and rutin, which are found in lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruit. As discussed below, there is some preliminary evidence that citrus flavonoids may reduce symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, but more research is needed.

Hesperidin, in combination with diosmin, has been shown to reduce limb swelling and improve quality of life compared to placebo in people with chronic venous insufficiency (Belczak, Phlebology 2014). However, the combination may be less effective than other supplements such as oxerutins (which are also used to improve blood flow) or Pycnogenol (Cesarone, Clin Appl Thromb Hemostat 2006; Cesarone, Angiology 2006), and it is uncertain whether the benefit, if any, is due to diosmin, hesperidin or the combination.

Also, be aware that citrus bioflavonoids may cause nausea or vomiting in some people, and may interact with benzodiazepine drugs such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan).

Lifestyle interventions that may help

Lifestyle measures that may help to reduce the appearance or worsening of varicose veins include use of compression stockings, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding wearing high heels or standing for long periods of time (NIH 2023).