Role of dietary polyphenols in platelet aggregation. A review of the supplementation studies

Epidemiological studies suggest that high polyphenols intake from diet is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular diseases. Platelet aggregation is a crucial mechanism in the pathogenesis and clinical expression of coronary acute syndrome, and there is extensive evidence that antiplatelet therapy reduces cardiovascular disease risk. In this review, the available literature on the effect of polyphenols supplementation on platelet aggregation in humans or animal models has been critically analyzed, taking into consideration the different experimental protocols employed. In some studies, polyphenols supplementation did not show any effect on platelet aggregation. However, in the most of the studies, polyphenols supplementation, either as purified compounds or food extracts, showed some inhibitory effects, both in humans and in animal models. The extent of the inhibition varies in a wide range, depending on the experimental conditions used. The observed inhibitory effect of polyphenols on platelet aggregation might explain, at least in part, the epidemiological data on beneficial effect of dietary polyphenols on cardiovascular disease risk and suggests a role for polyphenols in helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases.