Habitual diet, platelet function, fibrinogen and factor VII coagulant activity in young Finns.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine whether an association between diet and platelet function, plasma fibrinogen level and factor VII coagulant activity (VII:C) could be established in young subjects. DESIGN: Data on the habitual diet of the subjects were collected either by a questionnaire on food habits (n = 204) or by a 48-h dietary recall interview (n = 53). SUBJECTS: The subjects were participants in the project 'Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns' (age range 15-30 years). A total of 204 subjects having a questionnaire on food habits participated in the platelet function tests and 53 also participated in a 48-h dietary recall interview. Plasma fibrinogen concentration and factor VII: C were measured from 79 subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Platelet function was tested by turbidometric measurement of platelet aggregation using ADP and collagen as aggregation agents. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation with ADP (at up to 4.0 mumol L-1) and collagen (at up to 5.0 micrograms mL-1 platelet-rich plasma PRP) showed that the diet characterized as 'saturated', i.e. containing high-fat milk and saturated fat, was associated with platelets less sensitive to aggregating agents in vitro when compared to the unsaturated type of diet. Collagen- but not ADP-induced aggregation decreased with age of the subjects (P = 0.026-0.057, regression coefficient). An inverse regression coefficient between plasma factor VII:C (101%; range 64-145%) and serum triglycerides (P = 0.006) and the intake of rye (g 1000 kcal-1; P = 0.03) were found. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we showed that platelet reactivity and factor VII:C already differ considerably between subjects at a young age, and diet may explain some of this variation.