Various members in my family from at least three generations have or had cardiovascular issues and several have died of them. I am 51 years old and would like to do something to prevent or at least lower my risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Recently I have read that Arginine and Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol) is supposed to be amazing at keeping the blood vessels elastic and preventing arteriosclerosis. I have found a few products like amitamin m forte, VIGARIN by amino expert and Prelox by Pharma Nord, which include this combination. But they are sold as impotence cures?!
Has anyone here got any experience with these or similar products? Why are they sold as impotence cures and are there any other supplements you would recommend?
Suggest you talk to a qualified herbalist for advice on that. I am currently giving my Father Australian Bush Flower remedies to help lift his terrible depression that followed his aortic valve replacement 3 years ago. No anti depressant has worked drugs have been juggled and at last we have a break through. A diagnosis yesterday of pump head syndrome and told by the consultant carry on doing what you are doing as clearly it works for you! Neal's Yard Remedies have been very good and have all kinds of qualified practioners that can offer help.
John, I am in the same boat as you. Only that I already had a heart attack. I used to have weak erections, but I had no idea that they were a direct symptom of poor circulation and a bright red warning sign. I came across Arginine only AFTER my heart attack and used to take it as straight powder (tastes rank!), but then switched to amitamin m forte about two years ago when I also heard about the pine bark extract. I have had to have two bypasses, but I am happy now, because my erections are fine and I feel well. Somehow my immune system seems to have improved too since I have been taking it, because I have not had a cold for 18 months .. could be the vitamin C and zinc in it - fingers crossed.
I also recommend you read the book "NO more Heart Disease” by Dr Ignarro, who won the Nobel Prize for his research on how the body uses Arginine to regulate blood flow. Funny enough he used the male erection to prove his theories. This link is why these Arginine products are marketed as such. People tend to not worry about their circulation until it is too late and they have no idea that it is the actual cause of their impotence. Just like me!!!
Heart disease is the top killer above 45 in the Western world. You are doing the right thing to worry about it now!
Johnkemp, I have been on amitamin m forte since last summer and am very happy with it. I took it initially to improve my love life and subsequently found that it increased my overall well-being. I feel stronger and healthier than I have for years. Do not give up if you can’t feel the effect after three weeks, it is subtle but it is worth it. Your wife might well find she has never experienced you like this between the sheets 
I just had a look at Vigarin and I like it too. Thanks for pointing it out. Good luck!
Johnkemp, I had a look at this over the weekend and wanted to share this with you. It's an overview of 84 medical studies done on health benefits of pine bark extract. 47 and 60 & 62 (on cholesterol) are the main ones for us here
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3203267/
Not all of them are done on humans, but the results are impressive.. I wonder why this stuff is not taken more widely if it is so good for us? I will definitely keep taking mine and I'll get my wife into it too, because I want her around for a little while longer! 
I have been taking VIGARIN for about six months and love it. I had a fantastic summer with lots of tennis and hiking in Austria and I have been feeling great!! I hadn't come across Prelox, but it looks expensive compared to Vigrarin.
Thank you all for your responses and managing my expectations. This forum is very useful!
Vincent35, I have bought the book have started reading it.
I ended up going for m forte after I found a comparison about arginine and pine bark extract based pills for erectile dysfunction. I wonder how that part will work out for me, Victor1!
I would like to suggest Co enzyme Q10....if I may. It can even be used instead of statins....or, with them, if a Doctor tries to force those on you. Some great suggestions here.
I helped to set up this section so am rather proud of you lovely users!!!!!!
Hi marey, just saw your response and checked. VIGARIN has 20mg of Co enzyme Q10 in its daily dose so I am happy. 
Thank you for your note on its use with statins. Good to know and will research further!
welcome nigel!
very interesting dialogue you are having here. by the way have you seen the he-for-she campaign? this is a complete aside if that's ok? its been kicked off by emma watson at the UN.
would be interested in your responses guys.....but also in particular whether you might be prepared...when accepting her invitation to join in ...to consider that poss mens groups contemporaneously operating alongside women's groups....might be the way to go?
i raise this as the experience of mixed groups trying to address sexism doesn't really work (unless there's a theme) and that two groups in contact with each other or dislocated better serves the purpose of advancing feminism. so further to this i would say that whilst men can't be feminists...they can be feminist supporters. something important tome that i just wanted to share!! have a listen to her speech by googling her talk at UN. very best wishes from marey
the idea is that men and women work on their issues separately...so consciousness raising for women...and how to escape oppression...plus consciousness raising for men....how to escape oppression of our gendered roles. the tyranny for both parties ...not sure if that necessarily moves us towards ....oh gosh what do you call it...the brain fog !!...androgeny. it might for some but for others a greater appreciation of the differences between our genders...and how we can operate synergistically might equally evolve. anyway ...just keeping the brain cells in shape !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! any thoughts?
Hi, didn't know there was an Alternative Group here....just found it...
I started taking Pycnogenol back in 1995, went to a lecture and we were told by the researchers there, it "MAY" prevent cancer......that was some music to my ears....I was about 57 yrs old.....so I jumped on it and stayed on "P" for 1 whole year....it address MUCH and circulation for sure. First thing to be "cured" was my allergy/sinus issues I dealt with all my life prior to 1995.
Subsequently, I found Grape Seed Ex as it's less pricey and have been on Grape Seed Ex mostly and Pycnogenol too now and then. I take 400mg Grape Seed Ex per day in two 200mg doses..... I buy Pycnogenol in 100mg caps and take one now and then.
I'm basically very healthy, but deal with a nasty hip replacement from 2010...I have spending most time here on the Hip Replacement group.
So that is my story and MOST of my friends and family that is left take Grape Seed Ex or Pycnogenol and I can't say enough about these powerful antioxidants.....joy
This is from a site I was reading on Grape Seed Ex and circulation and sticky blood, etc.
Grape seed extract is a powerful protector of your heart and general circulation. It favorably changes a number of metabolic signals toward reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. It is proven to act as a water-soluble antioxidant and helps lower key inflammatory signals such as CRP, IL6, and TNFa. It is also proven to act at the gene transcription level, helping clear cholesterol, reduce triglycerides, and directly helping the key inflammatory gene signal known as NF-kappaB. As far as GSE is concerned, the higher the dose the greater the protection.
GSE is one of the marvels of Mother Nature.
thanks for that joy...really helpful.
i've actually got a vine in my garden....ok to just swallow the grape seeds whole ? or have they got to be crushed?
I don't know, you have to ingest a LOT of seeds to get the good results of grape seed ex...
One can't find grapes with seeds in the U.S. markets, probably in the country but not the city. I prefer taking the capsules I take they are very helpful for me and my health overall.
same here in uk...they're all seedless!
glad you've got a solution...i'll keep chomping !!
For Marey: My suspecion is that grapes are MOSTLY genetically modified, taking all the seeds from them???? Could be wrong, but thank goodness there are seeds for the grape seed extract. I just bought some black grapes at the market and of course seedless..... Or maybe there are seeds that can be grown seedless but they are modified, right?
Anyway, besides allergies and sinus issues gone for 19 yrs...
My eyesight is very stable, haven't had eyes checked in over 6 yrs.
Gums are so improved overall.
These are the obvious benefits, and now IF it will prevent cancer....what can I say? j
Hi Joy, interesting point. I am all over GSE and super antioxidants and yes, supermarket chains and market stalls tend to stock the seedless grapes, because they sell better. I think it is far better to find a good supplement, because you cant eat grapes every day.
Just re-read your topic details and do really appreciate what you wrote as i discover I have a family history of heart disease...eek!
thanks again...have got this extract now
Arginine is an amino acid and I took it some time ago for a while but not taking it now...it's connected to anti aging and I think I was taking it while working with higher BP and not wanting to take a BP drug.....