Cookies for Platelets

A stable supply of blood products (e.g. platelet concentrates) is of great importance for a functioning healthcare system; this supply depends on healthy, voluntary donors. In the production of platelet concentrates, there are various factors that can affect the concentrate itself. For example, after taking certain pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, a person must not donate for a certain period of time, as this would impair the function of the platelets in the concentrate. However, it has not yet been sufficiently investigated whether there are factors prior to a platelet donation that can improve platelet function.

It is well known that high blood sugar levels affect platelet function and thus lead to increased platelet activation. This raises the question of whether consuming foods containing glucose-such as Christmas cookies-can also produce this effect. Another aspect of supply security is the willingness to donate. An adequate supply of blood products cannot be guaranteed if the number of blood donors declines. It is therefore essential to increase donor motivation, especially among young and healthy donors. The purpose of this clinical study is therefore to investigate the effects of glucose in the form of homemade Christmas cookies on platelet function and donor satisfaction. The cookies administered will be of various types, but their sugar content will be similar to ensure better comparability. In addition, this study aims to analyze the effects on potential side effects of platelet donation.

This double-blinded, prospective interventional clinical trial with a crossover design is being conducted at the General Hospital in Vienna, Austria, Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, and a total of approximately 42 people will participate. The trial will take place between November 6, 2026, and December 24, 2026.

Participating donors will donate a total of two times within the study period: once after consuming a single Christmas cookie before the donation (corresponding to the control group-not providing a Christmas cookie would be unacceptable for ethical reasons during the pre-Christmas period) and once after consuming a higher number of cookies (up to 10). Whether the donor consumes one cookie first or the maximum number is determined by a physical random number generator. The study physicians are not informed of the assignment to the respective group. The cookies are ultimately served by an independent person. The last meal should be consumed approximately 2 hours before the start of apheresis to ensure a similar time interval between the last meal and the administration of the cookies in all participants; platelet donation on an empty stomach is not recommended for donor safety reasons.

Donors fill out the usual donor questionnaire before donating, as well as the additional donor satisfaction questionnaire. The donation is then carried out as usual. At the end of the donation, the donor is given another short questionnaire that assesses donor satisfaction and side effects and is asked to fill it out. Platelet function is assessed using a Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA) and, for a subset of donations, light transmission aggregometry (LTA) immediately before and immediately after the donation. Samples are collected as part of the routine blood draws performed during the donation. Additionally, for donors who underwent light transmission aggregometry, a repeat sample is taken from the apheresis product after the donation.