Grape Juice, But Not Orange Juice or Grapefruit Juice, Inhibits Human Platelet Aggregation

Abstract

Coronary artery disease is responsible for much mortality and morbidity around the world. Platelets are involved in atherosclerotic disease development and the reduction of platelet activity by medications reduces the incidence and severity of disease. Red wine and grapes contain polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids, which can reduce platelet aggregation and have been associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. Citrus fruits contain different classes of polyphenolics that may not share the same properties. This study evaluated whether commercial grape, orange and grapefruit juices, taken daily, reduce ex vivo platelet activity. In a randomized cross-over design, ten healthy human subjects (ages 26-58 y, five of each gender) drank 5-7.5 mL/(kg. d) of purple grape juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice for 7-10 d each. Platelet aggregation (whole blood impedance aggregometry, Chronolog Model #590) at baseline was compared to results after consumption of each juice. Drinking purple grape juice for one week reduced the whole blood platelet aggregation response to 1 mg/L of collagen by 77% (from 17.9 +/- 2.3 to 4.0 +/- 6.8 ohms, P = 0.0002). Orange juice and grapefruit juice had no effect on platelet aggregation. The purple grape juice had approximately three times the total polyphenolic concentration of the citrus juices and was a potent platelet inhibitor in healthy subjects while the citrus juices showed no effect. The platelet inhibitory effect of the flavonoids in grape juice may decrease the risk of coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction.

Effect of Acute and Chronic Tea Consumption on Platelet Aggregation in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

“…35 Nevertheless, several recent reports have suggested that increased dietary flavonoid consumption may inhibit platelet activation and function in humans. 36,37 Rein and colleagues 36 randomized 30 healthy volunteers to either cocoa, a caffeine-containing control beverage, or water and found that cocoa consumption suppressed ADP-and epinephrine-stimulated platelet activation acutely and had an aspirinlike effect on primary hemostasis as measured with a platelet function analyzer. Cocoa is high in flavonoids, especially catechins, 38 and has been shown by Rein and colleagues to decrease plasma markers of oxidation.…”

“…The first study 36 assessed markers of platelet activation and function, and the second study 37 measured whole-blood aggregation. In the present study, we assessed ex vivo platelet aggregation in plateletrich plasma, a method that has been shown to relate to CAD mortality 40 and previous myocardial infarction.…”

Grapes and Cardiovascular Disease

“…In that study, grape juice also inhibited protein kinase C and spared cellular antioxidants. Red wine has more potent antiplatelet effects than white wine (66) and these effects are not seen with other beverages, such as orange juice and grapefruit juice, which contain other antioxidants (67).…”

Study of Some Qualitative and Quantitative Characters of the Grapes of Indigenous Greek Grapevine Varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) using HPLC and Spectrophotometric Analyses

“…For example, in studies conducted with grapes and grape juice, clinical trials have demonstrated decreased platelet aggregation (PaceAsciak et al, 1996;Folts, 1998;Keevil et al, 2000;Freedman et al, 2001), improved endothelial function (Stein et al, 1999;Coimbra et al, 2005;Lekakis et al, 2005), reduced blood pressure (Park et al, 2004), and positive influences on biomarkers such as HDL, LDL, apo-B, and MCP-1 (Hansen et al, 2005;Zern et al, 2005;Castilla et al, 2006). Accordingly, it is apparent that grape consumption can modulate several factors that are associated with health benefits.…”