title: Pilot trial of the effects of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid on platelet thromboxane B2 production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that certain foods of plant origin contain milligram-quantities of acetylsalicylate which could exert an anti-thrombotic effect. Acetylsalicylic acid prevents cardiovascular diseases through inhibition of platelet endoperoxide thromboxane production and platelet aggregation. We investigated whether a daily intake of 3 mg acetylsalicylic acid causes a measurable decrease of platelet cyclo-oxygenase activity assessed by in vitro thromboxane B2 production.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten healthy volunteers (5 men, 5 women) aged 22 +/- 3 years (mean +/- s.d) participated in the study; there were no drop-outs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants took 3 mg/d of acetylsalicylic acid or a placebo for 2 weeks each. At the end of each treatment period venous blood was drawn, and platelet-rich plasma was stimulated with arachidonic acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with acetylsalicylic acid caused a 39 +/- 8% decrease in maximal thromboxane B2 production (P = 0.000), which was independent of treatment order.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative data on acetylsalicylate in foods and the possible antithrombotic action of a diet rich in acetylsalicylate deserve closer investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Akkerman
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hollman
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van Staveren
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zwaginga
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Katan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D001241:Aspirin