Twenty patients, of both sexes, suffering from ischaemic heart disease and/or atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease have been studied in a long-term trial of tetranicotinoylfructose (Bradilan) by mouth.Cholesterol levels fell in Type II cases and triglycerides in Type IV, the falls being well maintained at 6 months. Significant falls in fibrinogen, free fatty acids, and platelet stickiness were also observed and maintained at 6 months. Fibrinolytic activity increased significantly and over a similar period of time. These results bore no relation to Fredrickson types.Only one important side-effect, namely flushing, was observed. It was infrequent and tolerable and it diminished with time and adjustment of dosage.

A steam-distilled and an ether extract of onion have both been found to enhance blood fibrinolysis without depressing fibrinogen content in groups of human volunteers. Cheemical analysis has shown which sulphur-containing compounds were in highest concentration and common to both and thus likely to carry this property, but their very intense and prolonged flavour precludes their clinical use. One sulphurcontaining but nearly odourless compound has been identified as having indirect fibrinolytic potential. A species difference in respect of fibrinolysis has been found between English and Spanish onion but is of little importance.

The administration of allyl propyl disulphide (APDS), a volatile substance contained in onion, to six normal volunteers after a 12 hour fast caused a significant fall in the blood glucose levels and a significant rise in the serum insulin levels during the subsequent 4 hours. It is argued that this effect is due to an insulin sparing action. The expected rise of serum free fatty acid levels after fasting did not occur after APDS administration and this effect is probably related to the simultaneous rise in the insulin levels.