Anti-coagutants have no effect on the PAI but reductions have been observed after the intake of Vitamin E, flaxseed oil, garlic, codliver oil, lecithin and aspirin. He said that deep vein thrombosis was absent after operations, and that protection was afforded to coronary heart patients. Recent research has revealed how dietary fats, in the amount consumed in the Western diet, cause platelet stickiness. Hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, derived from fatty acids in the blood, are used by the cells in the blood vessel walls to produce prostacyclin, and by the platelets to produce thromboxane. Prostacyclin controls the muscular contraction of the vessels and presents platelets adhering to the vessel walls.
Prostaglandins differ in type depending on the type of fatty acids available.
This is well and good, but it should be first of all realized that better results are obtainable simply by eliminating both animal fats and concentrated vegetable fats from the diet. This recommendation is indeed ineffectual. Drinking beer, and to a lesser extent other alcohol, increases blood fats and blood pressure. Three pints of light ale per day are sufficient to cause big increases in blood pressure over a three-day period, the increase in viscosity being sufficient to present risk of heart attacks in coronary prone patients. The research shows that the marked relief of symptoms of these complaints is achieved by way of lowered blood viscosity.