Dietary ALA increases the platelet count but not their production. Platelet count in ApoE^−/− mice was significantly increased after 16 weeks on a high-ALA diet (A; n = 30; P = .0002). In contrast, tail bleeding time was prolonged but not significantly (B; n = 5, P > .05). Megakaryocytes from bone marrow were harvested and assayed for CFUs, revealing no difference between low- and high-ALA mice (C; n = 3; P > .05). Bone marrow sections were stained for the megakaryocyte marker CD41; 3 images per section were taken at random and CD41+ cells scored (D; n = 3, P > .05; magnification 20×). Plasma TPO levels were not significantly different in the high-ALA group (E; n = 13; P > .05). Reticulated platelets representing newly synthesized platelets were not different between the groups (F; n = 15; P > .05).