Effects of antioxidant supplementation on platelet function: a randomized pair-matched, placebo-controlled,...

We investigated the effect on platelet function of supplementing men with low antioxidant status with 600 mg ascorbic acid, 300 mg alpha-tocopherol, 27 mg beta-carotene, and 75 micrograms selenium in yeast daily. Eighty men were randomly assigned in pairs (matched for smoking, baseline antioxidant status, and time and day of entry) by use of a double-blind design to receive supplement or placebo for 5 mo. Compared with 39 control subjects, 39 antioxidant-supplemented men experienced the following net reductions during the double-blind period: 20% (P = 0.012) in serum lipid peroxides, 24% (P = 0.035) in ADP-induced platelet aggregation, 42% (P = 0.040) in the rate of ATP release during aggregation, 51% (P = 0.018) in serum (platelet-produced) thromboxane B2, and 29% (P = 0.024) in plasma beta-thromboglobulin concentration. The data support our hypothesis that antioxidant supplementation of men with low antioxidant status and high fat intake reduces lipid peroxidation, the capacity of platelets to aggregate and to produce thromboxane A2, and in vivo platelet activation.