Inhibitory effect of Fruitflow on platelet function: a randomized placebo-controlled trial in elderly subjects

Abstract

\n Background: The elderly has a high risk of cardiovascular disease, which is often accompanied by platelet hyperactivity. Tomato extracts can inhibit platelet activation and have beneficial health effects. We aimed to investigate the effect of Fruitflow® (FF), a water-soluble tomato extract, on platelet function in elderly participants.Methods: This randomized group study was conducted with people over 50 years old. The participants were randomly divided into four groups: placebo (150 mg/day), FF (150 mg/day), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; 100 mg/day), and FF (150 mg/day) + ASA (100 mg/day). These groups received the respective supplements after dinner daily for 7 days. Fasting blood was collected from the participants on days 0 and 8 to analyze platelet aggregation and the content of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α, and platelet factor 4 (PF4). Results: One hundred ninety elderly participants were recruited and completed this clinical trial. The results showed that the FF intervention for 7 days decreased platelet aggregation by 7.7% in adenosine diphosphate-stimulated platelets, which was similar to the effect of ASA, which decreased platelet aggregation by 9.4%. FF reduced platelet aggregation by 10.2% in collagen-stimulated platelets, and ASA reduced platelet aggregation by 38.3% in collagen-activated platelets. This suggests that ASA exerts a stronger inhibitory effect than FF on collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation. The combination of FF + ASA did not exert a synergistic inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Treatment with FF significantly decreased plasma TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α, and PF4 levels, and its effects were similar to ASA. Conclusion: Fruitflow® suppressed platelet aggregation and decreased TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α, and PF4 levels in elderly participants. These findings indicate that FF might reduce the risk of thrombosis in cardiovascular diseases.Trial registration code: ChiCTR2000034647 at www.clinicaltrials.gov.