Onions and Platelet Levels: Understanding the Connection

Platelets are smaller than both red and white blood cells and, while not actually cells themselves, are an essential blood component. Platelets are the blood elements responsible for clotting. Onions contain a chemical that is known to reduce platelet activity in humans and dogs.

The Chemicals in Onions

• Onions contain a chemical called quercetin. In a 2006 study in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers discovered that quercetin inhibits platelet production. During the study, test subjects ingested onion soup with high levels of quercetin.

Pros and Cons of Platelet Activity

• In healthy people, clotting is a life-saving phenomenon. Excess clotting, however, can have life-threatening effects. Abnormal clotting contributes to atherosclerosis, a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease.

Benefits of Onions and Reduced Platelet Activity

• The 2006 study determined that people who consume a diet high in quercetin-containing foods, such as onions, have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The platelet activity of onions may also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other blood-clot influenced illnesses. Researchers are still working to determine the exact therapeutic dose.