Effects of alcohol and the evening meal on shear-induced platelet aggregation and urinary excretion of prostanoids

Moderate regular alcohol intake has been found to be associated with a decr eased risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. We investigated the effec ts of acute intake of red wine (60 g ethanol) and a standard dinner under c ontrolled conditions on haemostatic factors. Shear-induced platelet aggrega tion (SIPA) decreased after the intake of alcohol irrespective of whether t he subjects were fasting or not, and also after the intake of food. The int ake of alcohol inhibited the postprandial increase of von Willebrand factor multimers. Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 activity (PA I-1) and serum triglycerides were increased by alcohol. Excretion of the pl atelet thromboxane A(2) metabolites 11-dehydrothromboxane B-2 and 2,3-dinor thromboxane B-2, as well as the endothelial prostacyclin metabolite 2,3-din or-6-ketoprostaglandin F-1 alpha, into urine was not influenced by either a lcohol or food. We conclude that eating a dinner together with red wine has no untoward effect on SIPA and that the decrease of SIPA is not specific f or alcohol.