Effect of Vitamin E on Platelet Aggregation in Diabetes Mellitus

Summary

Vitamin E is known to be an inhibitor of platelet prostaglandin production and aggregation. The rate of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate was significantly increased in diabetics with proliferative retinopathy and the enhanced production of thromboxane B₂, a stable metabolite of thromboxane A₂, was demonstrated in those patients. On the other hand, vitamin E in platelets was significantly reduced in diabetics compared with age matched controls. In addition, it was shown that vitamin E content in platelets examined in diabetic and control subjects inversely correlated with both the rate of platelet aggregation and thromboxane B₂ production during aggregation. It is suggested that the reduced vitamin E levels in diabetic platelets can contribute to the mechanisms of the enhanced platelet thromboxane production and aggregation which relate to the development of vascular complications.

Keywords

Vitamin E - Platelet aggregation - Thromboxane - Diabetic retinopathy

• References

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