Characterisation of Hypertensive Patients with Improved Endothelial Function after Dark Chocolate Consumption

Abstract

Recent findings indicate an inverse relationship between cardiovascular disease and consumption of flavonoids. We aimed to identify clinical and vascular parameters of treated hypertensive who present beneficial effects of dark chocolate for one-week period on vascular function. Twenty-one hypertensive subjects, aged 40–65 years, were included in a prospective study with measurement of blood pressure (BP), brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), peripheral arterial tonometry, and central hemodynamic parameters. These tests were repeated after seven days of eating dark chocolate 75 g/day. Patients were divided according to the response in FMD: responders (n = 12) and nonresponders (n = 9). The responder group presented lower age (54 ± 7 versus 61 ± 6 years, P = 0.037), Framingham risk score (FRS) (2.5 ± 1.8 versus 8.1 ± 5.1%, P = 0.017), values of peripheral (55 ± 9 versus 63 ± 5 mmHg, P = 0.041), and central pulse pressure (PP) (44 ± 10 versus 54 ± 6 mmHg, P = 0.021). FMD response showed negative correlation with FRS (r = −0.60, P = 0.014), baseline FMD (r = −0.54, P = 0.011), baseline reactive hyperemia index (RHI; r = −0.56, P = 0.008), and central PP (r = −0.43, P = 0.05). However, after linear regression analysis, only FRS and baseline RHI were associated with FMD response. In conclusion, one-week dark chocolate intake significantly improved endothelial function and reduced BP in younger hypertensive with impaired endothelial function in spite of lower cardiovascular risk.

Anthocyanin-rich plum juice reduces ambulatory blood pressure but not acute cognitive function in younger and older adults: a pilot crossover dose-timing study

“…In one study, anthocyanin-rich blueberry supplementation in younger and older adults resulted in improvements in different acute cognitive domains, whereby a significant improvement in updating ability was reported for younger adults and improvements in immediate word recognition in older adults were identified [67]. In relation to cocoa flavonoids, consumption of dark chocolate for one week significantly improved endothelial function and reduced BP in younger hypertensive patients, but not in older populations [68]. Overall there is little information that compares responses between younger and older adult populations thus more work comparing these groups is required to elucidate any age-related differences in biological response.…”

Inter‐Individual Variability in Insulin Response after Grape Pomace Supplementation in Subjects at High Cardiometabolic Risk: Role of Microbiota and miRNA

“…It has been previously suggested that inter‐individual variability in polyphenol response may be derived from differences in cardiometabolic markers. [ 26 ] In this study, basal common cardiometabolic markers of the subjects did not show statistical differences that may allow to foresee the observed differential response to the supplementation; although basal insulin was significantly higher in responders, this is not a parameter included in the common evaluation of cardiometabolic risk).…”

Short-Term Effects of Dark Chocolate on Retinal and Choriocapillaris Perfusion in Young, Healthy Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

“…Various studies have evaluated the association between consumption of polyphenol-rich foods and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, dyslipidemias, heart failure, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Regular consumption of polyphenol-rich food, such as chocolate, vegetables, and fruits, has been linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular events and strokes [4,8,9].…”