Guidance for General Practitioners on Plasmaide Use in Athletes


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Plasmaide is a liquid supplement derived from maritime pine bark extract (Pinus pinaster). Its key active components are procyanidins—potent polyphenols with well-established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

 

 

Research and anecdotal reports from athletes suggest two main effects:

 

1. Acute effects (within hours):  

    • Enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production: Procyanidins in Plasmaide stimulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), boosting NO levels. This causes vasodilation, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles during exercise.
    • Potential benefits: Increased exercise performance, reduced perceived exertion, better post-exercise clearance of metabolic waste, possibly reduced muscle soreness.

 

2. Chronic effects (days to weeks):

 

    • Immune and recovery support: Regular use may modulate inflammatory responses by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha) and boosting antioxidant defenses.
    • Metabolic shift: Emerging data (including pilot athlete studies) suggest Plasmaide may enhance fat utilization at submaximal workloads, preserve muscle glycogen, and shift lactate thresholds upward—potentially improving endurance capacity.

Safety and caveats:

    • Generally well tolerated in studies up to 6 months; minor GI complaints most common.
    • Has mild antiplatelet effects—use caution in patients on anticoagulants, with bleeding disorders, or pre-surgery.
    • No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding—avoid use.
    • Product is tested and certified (e.g., Informed Sport) as free from WADA-banned substances and designer androgens.

 

Practical use:

    • Taken 30–60 minutes pre-exercise for acute vasodilation benefits.
    • Some athletes use post-exercise doses to aid recovery.
    • Recommended to cycle usage—continuous daily intake may blunt natural adaptive pathways (akin to exogenous hormones suppressing endogenous production).