Effect of Alpha-Tocopherol Administration on Platelet Function in Man

Summary

The effect of vitamin E administration on platelet function was evaluated in a group of normal, healthy volunteers. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and epinephrine and platelet adhesion to collagen were measured at weekly intervals in 20 men and 27 women divided into 3 experimental groups of 12 individuals each and one control group of 5 men and 6 women. One experimental group was on a 6-week regimen of vitamin E in increasing dosages (4001.U.-1.2001.U.), the second group received aspirin, 300 mg every other day, and the third group was on a combination of vitamin E and aspirin. In the control group, platelet function was measured at weekly intervals. In women, vitamin E by itself produced a small but significant reduction of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. A similar trend was seen in men. However, the reduction never reached statistical significance. Adhesiveness to collagen was not affected by aspirin ingestion but showed a highly significant reduction in vitamin E and vitamin E + aspirin treated individuals. These results suggest that vitamin E administration could have a beneficial effect in patients suffering from arterial thromboembolic diseases.

Keywords

Platelet aggregation - Platelet adhesion - α-tocopherol - Vitamin E

• References

• 1 Weiss HJ, Aledort LM, Kochwa S. The effect of salicylates on the hemostatic properties of platelets in man. J Clin Invest 1968; 47: 2169-2180
• 2 Evans G, Packham MA, Nishizawa EE, Mustard JF, Murphy EA. The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on platelet function. J Exp Med 1968; 128: 877-894
• 3 Zucker MB, Peterson J. Effect of acetylsalicylic acid, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and dipyridamole on human blood platelets. J Lab Clin Med 1970; 76: 66-75
• 4 Cucuianu MP, Nishizawa EE, Mustard JF. Effect of pyrimidopy-rimidine compounds on platelet function. J Lab Clin Med 1971; 77: 958-974
• 5 Hirsh J, Street D, Cade JF, Amy H. Relation between bleeding time and platelet connective tissue reaction after aspirin. Blood 1973; 41: 369-377
• 6 Harker LA, Slichter SJ. Studies of platelet and fibrinogen kinetics in patients with prosthetic heart valves. N Engl J Med 1970; 283: 1302-1305
• 7 Harker LA, Ross R, Slichter SJ, Scott CR. Hemocystine-induced arteriosclerosis. The role of endothelial cell injury and platelet response in its genesis. J Clin Invest 1976; 58: 731-741
• 8 Weily HS, Gentron E. Altered platelet function in patients with prosthetic mitral valves. Effects of sulfinpyrazone therapy. Circulation 1970; 42: 967-972
• 9 Higashi O, Kikuchi Y. Effect of vitamin E on the aggregation and the lipid peroxidation of platelets exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Tohoku J Exp Med 1974; 112: 271-278
• 10 Steiner M, Anastasi J, Vitamin E. An inhibitor of the platelet release reaction. J Clin Invest 1976; 57: 732-737
• 11 Fong JSC. Alpha tocopherol: Its inhibition on human platelet aggregation. Experientia 1976; 32: 639-641
• 12 White JG, Rao GH R, Gerrard JM. Effects of nitroblue tetrazolium and vitamin E on platelet ultrastructure, aggregation, and secretion. Am J Pathol 1977; 88: 387-402
• 13 Steiner M. Vitamin E changes the membrane fluidity of human platelets. Biochim Biophys Acta 1981; 640: 100-105
• 14 Castellan RM, Steiner M. Effect of platelet age on adhesiveness to collagen and platelet surface charge. Thromb Haemostas 1976; 36: 392-400
• 15 Taylor SL, Lamden MP, Tappel AL. Sensitive fluorometric method for tissue tocopherol analysis. Lipids 1976; 11: 530-538
• 16 Searle SR. Linear Models, p. 261-331 John Wiley & Sons Inc.; New York, London: 1971
• 17 Johnson M, Ramey E, Ramwell PW. Sex and age differences in human platelet aggregation. Nature 1975; 253: 355-357
• 18 Norday A, Svensson B, Haycraft D, Hoak JC, Wiebe D. The influence of age, sex, and the use of oral contraceptives on the inhibitory effects of endothelial cells and PG I₂ (prostacyclin) on platelet function. Scand J Haematol 1978; 21: 177-187
• 19 Roper P, Drewinko MD, Hasler D, Johnston D, Hester J, Freireich EJ. Effects of time, platelet concentration, and sex on the human platelet aggregation response. Am J Clin Pathol 1979; 71: 263-268
• 20 Kelton JG, Powers P, Julian J, Plan V, Carter CJ, Gent M, Hirsh J. Sex-related differences in platelet aggregation: influence of hematocrit. Blood 1980; 56: 38-41
• 21 Lucy JA. Functional and structural aspects of biological membranes. A suggested structural role for vitamin E in the control of membrane permeability and stability. Ann NY Acad Sci 1972; 203: 4-11
• 22 Marcus AJ, UUman HL, Safier LB. Lipid composition of subcellular particles of human platelets. J Lipid Res 1969; 10: 108-114