About
Associate Professor Chris Ward-
Christopher Ward is the Director of the Northern Blood Research Centre, and supervises clinical and basic research into diseases of the blood and clotting system.
Modification of cardiovascular risk by dietary supplements
Summary
Novel dietary supplements which inhibit coagulation will be tested in healthy volunteers and patients at risk of cardiovascular events.
Supervisor(s)
Associate Professor Chris Ward
Research Location
Northern Blood Research Centre, Northern Clinical School
Program Type
Synopsis
Diet is an important aspect of cardiovascular health, with clear evidence for saturated fat and salt intake as risk factors for disease. The effects of diet on coagulation pathways, are poorly understood. Our laboratory and others have observed that platelet function is affected by changes in diet, with reduced responses in platelet aggregation. These effects have been attributed to garlic, ginger and other platelet inhibitors. A vegetable extract has been found to also inhibit platelet function in vitro, and we have recently confirmed this effect in vivo.
Healthy volunteers taking this vegetable extract over several weeks showed significant changes in platelet reactivity and in other markers of coagulation. We hypothesize that dietary supplementation with this extract could be beneficial in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, and be safely added to conventional antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. The Northern Blood Research Centre has a world-class platelet function laboratory and has established several novel assays of global coagulation activity. This laboratory expertise and the pilot data from our dietary supplements provides the basis for a unique project, looking at platelet and coagulation parameters, in both volunteers and patients. Results from these studies will be used to guide the development of dietary supplements for high-risk populations.
Additional Information
Techniques for this project include:
- Platelet function mapping, using optical and impedance aggregometry, flow cytometry and automated analysers
- Global assays of coagulation - thrombin generation testing and thromboelastography
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Keywords
cardiovascular disease, Arterial thromboembolism, Platelet function testing, Thrombin generation, Cardiovascular & respiratory diseases, Health & lifestyle, Heart & circulation
Opportunity ID
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 193
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