A natural extract for venous thrombosis and thrombophebitis on flights: Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, may help reduce the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis (SVT)) on long airplane flights. The study subjects (n=198) received either 200 mg Pycnogenol 2-3 hours before flying, 200 mg six hours later and 100 mg the day after flying or placebo . Air travel lasted an average of eight hours and 15 minutes. Compared to a placebo, researchers concluded Pycnogenol supplementation was effective in protecting against DVT and SVT in moderate to high-risk subjects with no thrombotic events reported (vs 5.15% of placebo patients with a reported event). (10)
