Do the veins in your legs swell and ache during air travel? Consider taking Pycnogenol before and after flights. Recently, Italian researchers found that the incidence of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis — commonly known as “economy class syndrome” — during air travel was reduced dramatically with Pycnogenol supplementation.

The aim of their study was to see if the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) was reduced by taking Pycnogenol before and after a long-haul flight (of about eight hours), in people with moderate to high risk of these vein problems. The study included 198 participants who received either two capsules of 100 mg Pycnogenol between two and three hours before flights; two capsules six hours later; and one capsule the next day, or a placebo at the same time intervals. Each participant was scanned within 90 minutes before the flight and within two hours after disembarking. In the control group there were five thrombotic (clotting) events (one DVT and four superficial thromboses) while only nonthrombotic, localized inflammation was observed in the Pycnogenol group. The researchers say “Pycnogenol treatment was effective in decreasing the number of thrombotic events (DVT and SVT)” in these travellers. No unwanted effects were observed in either group.

Sources: Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2004 Oct;10(4):373-7