Platelets represent one of many cell types present within your blood. Throughout the day, inactive platelets circulate throughout your bloodstream. These cells become activated in response to injury and begin to aggregate, forming a blood clot to stop bleeding at the site of a wound. A number of compounds affect your platelets, and vitamin E can have an effect on your platelet activity, though it might not significantly affect overall platelet levels in healthy individuals.
Vitamin E and Platelet Activity
Vitamin E can have an effect on your platelet activity levels. A study published in "Thrombosis Research" in 2011 indicates that vitamin E can hinder the aggregation of active platelet cells in response to injury by inhibiting the "coagulation cascade" -- the chemical chain reaction that triggers the formation of a blood clot. This indicates that vitamin E can effectively lower the levels of activated platelets in your bloodstream, preventing the formation of blood clots within your body.
Implications in Disease
Vitamin E's effect on platelet activity can have implications in blood-related diseases. Abnormal platelet function can result in a number of disorders, and can lead to abnormal blood clotting or an inability to promote blood coagulation. Among these platelet disorders is Eales disease, a condition in which white blood vessels in the retina become inflamed and blocked. A study published in the "Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics" in 2010 found that vitamin E helped to regulate platelet function, benefiting individuals suffering from Eales disease.
Interactions with Drugs
Vitamin E can also work together with pharmaceuticals that affect your blood, having an effect on the function of these drugs within your body. For example, vitamin E's effect on your platelets can complement the effects of aspirin, according to a study published in "Haematologica" in 2002. In many cases, a person takes aspirin to help thin her blood, preventing unhealthy blood clotting that can cause heart attack or stroke. The study found that taking vitamin E enhanced aspirin's ability to prevent blood clots. As a result, vitamin E's effect on your platelets and interaction with aspirin might aid in the treatment of clotting disorders
Considerations
While vitamin E appears to have an inhibitory affect on platelet function, and can reduce your count of activated platelets, taking vitamin E might not significantly reduce your overall platelet count. If you suffer from a clotting disorder, talk to your physician about the possible benefits of vitamin E supplements. You should also talk to your doctor before taking any supplements containing vitamin E, especially if you are susceptible to uncontrolled bleeding. High doses of vitamin E might prevent proper platelet function, contributing to a bleeding disorder, even if the vitamin does not decrease your platelet blood count.
References
- "Thrombosis Research"; Vitamin E Inhibition on Platelet Procoagulant Activity: Involvement of Aminophospholipid Translocase Activity; Kim et al.; 2011
- "Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Antioxidant Supplementation Improves Platelet Membrane Fluidity in Idiopathic Retinal Periphlebitis (Eales' Disease); Saxena et al.; 2010
- "Haematologica"; Vitamin E Potentiates the Antiplatelet Activity of Aspirin in Collagen-Stimulated Platelets; Celestini et al.; 2002
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Vitamin E Supplementation Suppresses Indexes of Lipid Peroxidation and Platelet Counts in Blood of Smokers and NonSmokers but Plasma Lipoprotein Concentrations Remain Unchanged; Brown et al.; 1994
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