Influence of long-term diet modification on platelet function and composition in Moselle farmers

Platelet function and composition, lipemia, and dietary habits were evaluated yearly in 98 male farmers from Moselle (East of France) before and after decreasing, in half of them, dietary saturated fats from 16.2% to 9.9% of calories (P/S from 0.32 to 0.97). One year after these dietary changes, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased by approximately 10%, platelet aggregation to thrombin by 81%, and their clotting activity by 30%. However, ADP aggregation was enhanced by 54%. At 2 yr the P/S was decreased to 0.7 and diet also modified in controls, with 18:2 being increased mostly in one group (P/S = 0.81) and 18:3 in another (P/S = 0.59). In both groups, the main platelet function tests were significantly depressed 1 yr later. Considering the whole study, the intake of saturated fat was mostly correlated (group and individual) with platelet aggregation to thrombin, platelet clotting activity, and 20:3 (n-9) in plasma and platelet lipids.