Poland: Study on Resveratrol and Platelet Function in Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study in the journal Nutrients shows that the resveratrol-induced inhibition of platelet metabolism and TXA2 release may reduce platelet function and thrombus formation in type 2 diabetes patients. This implies the benefit of resveratrol for preventing vascular complications as a future complementary treatment in aspirin-resistant diabetic patients.

Chronic hyperglycemia can lead to vascular complications in diabetes. Resveratrol exerts anti-diabetic and anti-platelet action. Anna Michno, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland, and colleagues aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol on metabolism and the function of blood platelets under static and in in vitro flow conditions in patients with type 2 diabetes.

For this purpose, the researchers obtained blood from 8 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with type 2 diabetes incubated with resveratrol and perfused over collagen-coated capillaries. Isolated blood platelets were incubated with resveratrol and activated by collagen for assessing platelet function, ATP release, metabolism, TXA2 production, glutathione content, and lipid peroxidation.

Study Findings

• In the type 2 diabetes group, plasma glucose and fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher than in the healthy group.
• In in vitro studies, collagen-induced thrombi formation in the blood of diabetic patients was 33% higher than in the healthy group.
• Resveratrol reduced thrombi by over 50% in the blood of healthy and diabetic patients.
• TXA2 production was 47% higher in diabetic platelets than in the healthy group.
• Resveratrol reduced TXA2 release by 38% in healthy platelets and by 79% in diabetic platelets.
• Resveratrol also reduced the activities of enzymes responsible for glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in the platelets of both groups.

"Resveratrol-induced inhibition of platelet metabolism and TXA2 release may lead to a reduction of platelet function and thrombus formation in type 2 diabetes patients," wrote the authors. "Resveratrol, therefore, may be beneficial to prevent vascular complications as a future complementary treatment in aspirin-resistant diabetic patients."

Reference

Michno, Anna et al. "Resveratrol Inhibits Metabolism and Affects Blood Platelet Function in Type 2 Diabetes." Nutrients vol. 14,8 1633. 14 Apr. 2022, doi:10.3390/nu14081633