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Pine Bark, Maca and Saffron: What the Research on Vigorus's Blend Says
Quick answer
Pine bark extract has the strongest record, with 39 randomized trials across many health areas. Maca's evidence for sexual function is too limited to judge, and saffron has only small trials. All three sit inside Vigorus's 570 mg blend, and the label does not publish the amount of each.
What is in the Vigorus proprietary blend?
The Vigorus blend holds six ingredients in 570 mg per capsule. Two are amino acids and four are plant extracts.
This post covers the plant half: pine bark, maca, saffron and grape skin. The amino acids, citrulline and carnitine, are covered in our post on L-citrulline and circulation.
- L-citrulline
- L-carnitine
- Pine bark (Pinus pinaster)
- Maca root (Lepidium meyenii)
- Grape skin (Vitis vinifera)
- Saffron stigmas (Crocus sativus)
What does research say about pine bark extract?
Pine bark extract has the most research of the four plant ingredients. A 2024 review counted 39 randomized, placebo-controlled trials on Pycnogenol, a branded French maritime pine bark extract (Weichmann et al., 2024).
Those trials covered many areas, including heart and blood vessel health. That is why makers of circulation formulas often include it.
Pine bark is rich in procyanidins, plant compounds also found in grape seeds, apples and cocoa. Its place third in the blend list suggests it is a middle share of the 570 mg, behind the two amino acids.
What that research does not tell you
- The Vigorus label lists pine (Pinus pinaster) bark extract but names no brand.
- Results for one branded extract may not carry over to another extract.
- The amount of pine bark in each Vigorus capsule is not published.
What does research say about maca root?
Maca is a root vegetable from the high Andes of Peru. It is sold as a powder and in capsules, often for energy and libido.
A 2010 systematic review looked at maca and sexual function. The authors found only a few small trials and said the evidence was too limited to draw firm conclusions (Shin et al., 2010).
The review looked at maca on its own. It did not look at maca mixed with five other ingredients inside one small capsule, the way it appears in Vigorus.
How to read the maca claim
The sales page says Vigorus is made to support libido. Maca is one of the ingredients tied to that claim. With limited trials and an unknown amount, treat it as a hopeful addition rather than a proven one.
What about saffron and grape skin extract?
Saffron is the red thread of the Crocus sativus flower and one of the priciest spices in the world. It has been studied in small trials for mood and sexual function.
Those trials were small, and there is no U.S. government fact sheet on saffron as a supplement. The evidence is limited.
Saffron stigmas extract
Small trials on mood and sexual function. Evidence is limited. The amount in Vigorus is not published.
Grape skin extract
Grape skins carry resveratrol and other polyphenols. The label gives no amount, and no study of the Vigorus formula exists.
Both are listed near the end of the blend. Ingredients are usually listed from most to least by weight, so these two are likely small shares of the 570 mg.
How does the evidence compare across the blend?
The plant ingredients do not all stand on the same ground. Pine bark has the most trials. Maca and saffron have far less.
| Ingredient | Research picture | Amount in Vigorus | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine bark extract | 39 randomized trials on one branded extract, across many areas | Not published | Weichmann 2024 review |
| Maca root extract | Too limited to judge for sexual function | Not published | Shin 2010 review |
| Saffron stigmas extract | Small trials only | Not published | No U.S. fact sheet |
| Grape skin extract | Polyphenol source; no trials on this formula | Not published | Label only |
| L-citrulline | Studies used about 3-9 g a day | Not published | NIH ODS |
| L-carnitine | Studies mostly used 1-3 g a day | Not published | NIH ODS |
The last two rows show the scale problem. Citrulline studies used grams (NIH ODS), and carnitine studies mostly used 1-3 g a day (NIH ODS). The whole blend is 570 mg.
Why do blend amounts matter so much?
Research tells you what a certain amount did in a certain group of people. Without the amount, you cannot link a study to a capsule.
Vigorus does print exact amounts for two nutrients: 20 mg niacin and 11 mg zinc. Those are sensible levels you can compare with official guides.
Pros
- Six named ingredients with known Latin sources.
- Pine bark has a real trial record.
- Niacin 20 mg and zinc 11 mg are printed and easy to check.
Cons
- No amount for any blend ingredient.
- No published study on the finished formula.
- Maca and saffron evidence is thin.
How can you read herb research as a buyer?
Ask four plain questions of any study you see quoted. They work for Vigorus and for any other product with a herbal blend.
Most headlines skip these details. A few minutes with the answers tells you how much weight a claim can carry.
Who was studied?
Young athletes, older men and people with a health condition can respond very differently. Check that the group looks like you.
Which extract was used?
A branded, standardized extract is not the same as a generic one. Pine bark research, for example, centers on one branded extract.
How much, and for how long?
Match the study dose with the label. If the label hides the dose, you cannot make the match.
Was there a placebo group?
Trials that compare with a dummy pill are far more useful than open studies where everyone knows what they took.
What would make the Vigorus evidence stronger
- A published amount for each of the six blend ingredients.
- The name of the pine bark extract, if it is a branded one.
- A study of the finished capsule in healthy adult men.
None of these are on the label or the sales page today. Until they are, the fair summary is that Vigorus contains ingredients with mixed research, in amounts you cannot check.
Who should check with a clinician before trying Vigorus?
If you take blood-pressure medicine, blood thinners or nitrates, show the label to a clinician first. Pine bark and citrulline both touch circulation.
Buy only through the authorized route, since the FDA warns about hidden drugs in some men's products. Our post on hidden drugs in men's supplements lists the checks. For label cautions and possible side effects, see the side effects page, and the ingredients page covers each ingredient in plain terms.
Pine bark, maca and saffron in Vigorus: common questions
How much pine bark extract is in Vigorus?
The label does not say. Pine bark is one of six ingredients inside a 570 mg proprietary blend, and the amount of each is not published.
Is Vigorus pine bark the same thing as Pycnogenol?
On the label it appears as pine (Pinus pinaster) bark extract. Pycnogenol is a branded extract of the same tree. The label does not name a brand, so the studies on Pycnogenol may not apply directly.
Does maca raise testosterone?
The sales page says Vigorus is made to support healthy testosterone within the normal range. A 2010 review found the evidence for maca and sexual function too limited to draw firm conclusions.
Is saffron safe in a supplement?
Saffron is a common spice. Trials on saffron extracts are small, and the amount in Vigorus is not published. Follow the label and ask a clinician if you take medication.
Why is grape skin extract in the blend?
Grape skins carry resveratrol and other polyphenols. The label does not say how much is in each capsule, and no study of this formula has been published.
References
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (read in 2026). Carnitine: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (read in 2026). Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance.
- Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, Lim HS and Ernst E (2010). Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review, in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 10:44.
- Weichmann F, Rohdewald P (2024). Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical studies, in Frontiers in Nutrition.
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