Effect of Traditional Greek Mediterranean Meals on Platelet Aggregation in Normal Subjects and in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between diet and incidence of coronary heart disease. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of a traditional Greek Mediterranean diet on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic acid (AA), and especially platelet-activating factor (PAF) on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as on healthy volunteers. The patients were randomized into two subgroups, A and B. The lipid extracts from traditional Greek Mediterranean-type meals were tested in in vivo for their ability to reduce PAF- or thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. The meals with the most potent anti-aggregating activity were chosen for the diet of both subgroup A and healthy subjects and consumed for a period of 28 days, whereas subgroup B kept to their regular diet that was followed before entering the study. Platelet-rich plasma was isolated before and after the diet, and the ability of platelets to aggregate under the aggregating factors was tested. One-month consumption of diet resulted in a significant reduction in PAF- and ADP-induced aggregation of platelets in both groups of healthy volunteers (PAF and ADP, P < .05) and subgroup A (PAF, P < .001; ADP, P < .05), whereas the AA-induced aggregation was not affected. No effect was observed in subgroup B, which followed the standard diet. Thus the consumption of a traditional Greek Mediterranean diet even for a short period can reduce platelet activity in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus and in healthy subjects.

Chemical Composition of Greek Avgotaracho Prepared from Mullet (Mugil cephalus): Nutritional and Health Benefits

“…Previous studies showed that the consumption of meals with a strong antiplatelet activity in vitro led to a reduced platelet activity in vivo in humans (63,64). Therefore, the low IC 50 values of the lipid extracts (corresponding to just a few micrograms of the initial product) in combination with the high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E provide indications that avgotaracho may merit future nutritional studies focused on its in vivo antiplatelet activity.…”

Effect of Fast-Food Mediterranean-Type Diet on Human Plasma Oxidation

“…In the present work the antioxidant activity of standard cooked fast food Mediterranean foodstuffs in the plasma of diabetic patients and normal volunteers is reported ex vivo. The relation of the above antioxidant activity with the recently reported antithrombotic activity 11,12 is discussed.…”

“…11,12 We hypothesized that since LDL oxidation produces PAF and PAF-like molecules, 10 a Mediterranean-type diet could be beneficial not only by inhibiting the PAF effect but also through an antioxidant activity that prevents the production of pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic factors such as PAF and its analogs.…”

Olive oil and the haemostatic system

“…Most of these beneficial changes were not seen in animals fed olive oil neutral lipid extract although blood platelet-activating factor and plasma oxidation were lower [95]. These same authors found a decrease in ADP-induced platelet agreggation and platelet-activation factor when healthy and patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus followed a diet rich in traditional Greek meals with high anti-aggregating activity for a period of 28 days [96].…”