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:
- 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.
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- 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).