Economy Class Syndrome

Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where blood clots in the legs. It is usually caused by a lack of leg movement, that leads to stagnation of blood in the veins. This condition is frequently found in long staying hospitalized patients and to an increasing degree in the long distance air passengers; particularly those crammed into the economy class with limited space. It is therefore called "economy class syndrome".

DVT is a major cause of another more serious condition called Pulmonary embolism. In such a case, the blood clot in the leg has spread and lodge itself in the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary embolism is one fatal disease that claims the lives of about 200,000 Americans every year. The onset can be quite sudden, with shortness of breadth being the most common presenting symptom.

Many research have shown that DVT is related to a high blood level of homocysteine, an amino acid that contains sulfur. The latter is also related to the development of atherosclerosis. A high homocysteine level is an independent and major risk factor of cardiovascular disease from many studies. ( If you have high homocysteine level, it can be bought back down to normal by vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, and L-carnitine)

How well can vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) relieve DVT? At the University of Milano, a study was where 397 patients with DVT were compared to a healthy control group of 585. Comparison was done based on the following: -

1. Blood levels of homocysteine
2. Folic acid
3. Vitamin B6
4. Vitamin B12

After adjustments were made for the confounding variables, the following conclusions were drawn: -

1. The probability of having DVT was two times as high among the participants with high homocysteine level as compared with those with lower levels.

2. No association was made between DVT incidence and blood levels of folic acid and vitamin B12.

3. The association between low levels of vitamin B6 and an increased risk of DVT was high. The participants with low vitamin B6 levels (less than 33.2 nanomol/L of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate [PLP]) had double the risk of developing DVT than did people with PLP levels above 46.5 nanomol/L.

Vitamin B6 supplements had been found to inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time. Other natural compounds that have similar effect include vitamin E, gingko, and fish oil. Aspirin also accomplishes the same blood thinning effect but is associated with frequent gastric bleeding.

The take home lesson: Take vitamin B6 as a protective insurance, starting one week before you go on a long plane trip if you wish to prevent economy class syndrome. Taking vitamin B6 also has the added advantage in that it also protects against heart attack and atherosclerosis.