Pycnogenol® Protects Veins During Flight

Pycnogenol® Protects Veins During Flight

GENEVAFrench maritime pinetree bark (as Pycnogenol®, supplied by Geneva-based Horphag Research)supplementation significantly protects from thrombotic events or complicationsfrom deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis (SVT),conditions associated with prolonged air travel.

The double blind, placebo-controlled study, published in theOctober 2004 issue of Clinical AppliedThrombosis/Hemostasis (10, 4:373-7) included 198subjects either supplemented with 200 mg Pycnogenol or placebo two to threehours prior to prolonged air travel, 200 mg six hours later in mid-flight and100 mg the day after flying. Flight time lasted on average eight hours and 15minutes.

The researchers concluded Pycnogenol treatment was effectivein protecting against thrombotic events (DVT and SVT) in moderate to high-risksubjects during prolonged flights as compared to the placebo group. Theeffectiveness of Pycnogenol as a preventive measure as demonstrated by thisstudy makes it a key factor in promoting safe and healthy travel, said PeterRohdewald, Ph.D. Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Muensterand one of the authors of the study. Pycnogenol ... has the ability to control the permeabilityof capillary walls, preventing edema, inhibiting platelet aggregation andultimately reducing thrombotic events.