Dietary flavanols and platelet reactivity.
Epidemiology studies suggest that the consumption of diets rich in flavonoids is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Plant-derived foods and beverages, such as red wine, tea, grape and grape juice, cocoa and chocolate, can be rich in 1 particular class of flavonoid, the flavan-3-ols. There is now an increasing body of research that suggests that consuming flavanol-rich foods can positively affect hemostasis, through mechanisms that either directly affect platelet function or increase certain endothelium-derived factors that maintain platelet acquiescence or increase fibrinolysis. In this paper, we will review a series of in vivo studies on the effects of flavanol-rich cocoa and chocolate on platelet activation and platelet-dependent hemostasis. In addition, we will briefly review the body of literature with regard to other flavanol-rich foods and beverages, and possible mechanisms of action.
Holt
Roberta R
RR
Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Actis-Goretta
Lucas
L
Momma
Tony Y
TY
Keen
Carl L
CL
D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001628:Beverages; D001682:Biological Availability; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014920:Wine
D005419:Flavonoids; D013662:Tea; D001241:Aspirin