Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function

Hermann, Frank

doi:10.1136/hrt.2005.063362

Cited by 154 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…However, acute intake does not increase endothelium-dependent vasodilation in all populations (14). In most of these previous studies the quantities of cocoa/chocolate ingested were very high, being roughly equivalent to 13 (13) or 26 g of cocoa (19,22,23,44). In only one of these previous studies was the effect of lower quantities of cocoa ingestion determined (75, 371, and 963 mg of total flavanols) and this determination was made only in medicated type 2 diabetics (1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults

Monahan

Feehan

Kunselman

et al. 2011

Journal of Applied Physiology

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Monahan KD, Feehan RP, Kunselman AR, Preston AG, Miller DL, Lott ME. Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults. J Appl Physiol 111: 1568 -1574. First published September 8, 2011 doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00865.2011.-An inverse relation exists between intake of flavonoid-rich foods, such as cocoa, and cardiovascular-related mortality. Favorable effects of flavonoids on the endothelium may underlie these associations. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to test the hypothesis that acute cocoa ingestion dose dependently increases endothelium-dependent vasodilation, as measured by an increase in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in healthy older adults. Measurements were obtained before (preingestion) and after (1-and 2-h postingestion) ingestion of 0 (placebo), 2, 5, 13, and 26 g of cocoa in 23 adults (63 Ϯ 2 yr old, mean Ϯ SE). Changes in brachial artery FMD 1-and 2-h postingestion compared with preingestion were used to determine the effects of cocoa. FMD was unchanged 1 (⌬Ϫ0.3 Ϯ 0.2%)-and 2-h (⌬0.1 Ϯ 0.1%) after placebo (0 g cocoa). In contrast, FMD increased both 1-h postingestion (2 g cocoa ⌬0.0 Ϯ 0.2%, 5 g cocoa ⌬0.8 Ϯ 0.3%, 13 g cocoa ⌬1.0 Ϯ 0.3%, and 26 g cocoa ⌬1.6 Ϯ 0.3%: P Ͻ 0.05 compared with placebo for 5, 13, and 26 g cocoa) and 2-h postingestion (2 g cocoa ⌬0.5 Ϯ 0.3%, 5 g cocoa ⌬1.0 Ϯ 0.3%, 13 g cocoa ⌬1.4 Ϯ 0.2%, and 26 g cocoa ⌬2.5 Ϯ 0.4%: P Ͻ 0.05 compared with placebo for 5, 13, and 26 g cocoa) on the other study days. A serum marker of cocoa ingestion (total epicatechin) correlated with increased FMD 1-and 2-h postingestion (r ϭ 0.44 -0.48; both P Ͻ 0.05). Collectively, these results indicate that acute cocoa ingestion dose dependently increases brachial artery FMD in healthy older humans. These responses may help to explain associations between flavonoid intake and cardiovascular-related mortality in humans.flavonoid; flavanol; chocolate; endothelium; endothelial function THE ENDOTHELIUM CONTRIBUTES critically to cardiovascular homeostasis by influencing factors such as vascular tone, vascular permeability, platelet aggregation, and thrombosis. As abnormal function of the endothelium is a key event in the atherosclerotic process (15), it is not surprising that endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark feature of many cardiovascular disease states (33). Moreover, it is not surprising that aging, which is a primary risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis (29,36), is associated with marked endothelial dysfunction. Specifically, in response to stimulation of the vascular endothelium via pharmacological substances, such as acetylcholine, or physiological stimuli, such as increases in vascular shear stress, a reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilatory response occurs in healthy older adults compared with healthy young adults (7,11,12,41). As low levels of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a commonly used method to assess endothelium-dependent vasodi...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Specifically acute cocoa/chocolate ingestion increases brachial artery FMD in young healthy adults (44), adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (13,19), smokers (22,23), and diabetics (1). However, acute intake does not increase endothelium-dependent vasodilation in all populations (14).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults

Monahan

Feehan

Kunselman

et al. 2011

Journal of Applied Physiology

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“…It is frequently linked to deterioration in vascular function, increased prevalence of proinflammatory changes, raised blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, and platelet thrombogenicity. These are all changes that cocoa flavanols may modulate [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Here, HFDC tended to lower SBP and improved vascular function, compared to LFDC, but the effects generally failed to reach significance.…”

Section: Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of high flavanol dark chocolate on cardiovascular function and platelet aggregation

Rull

Zain

Shiel

et al. 2015

Vascular Pharmacology

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Regular consumption of chocolate and cocoa products has been linked to reduced cardiovascular mortality. This study compared the effects of high flavanol dark chocolate (HFDC; 1064mg flavanols/day for 6 weeks) and low flavanol dark chocolate (LFDC; 88mg flavanols/day for 6 weeks) on blood pressure, heart rate, vascular function and platelet aggregation in men with pre-hypertension or mild hypertension. Vascular function was assessed by pulse wave analysis using radial artery applanation tonometry in combination with inhaled salbutamol (0.4 mg) to assess changes due to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. HFDC did not significantly reduce blood pressure compared to baseline or LFDC. Heart rate was increased by LFDC compared to baseline, but not by HFDC. Vascular responses to salbutamol tended to be greater after HFDC. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen or the thromboxane analogue U46619 was unchanged after LFDC or HFDC, whereas both chocolates reduced responses to ADP and the thrombin receptor activator peptide, SFLLRNamide (TRAP6), relative to baseline. Pre-incubation of platelets with theobromine also attenuated platelet aggregation induced by ADP or TRAP6. We conclude that consumption of HFDC confers modest improvements in cardiovascular function. Platelet aggregation is modulated by a flavanol-independent mechanism that is likely due to theobromine.

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“…Flavanol intake improved FMD in hypertensive patients with normal (51) as well as IGT (54). Flavanol-rich cocoa beverage also acutely improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation, platelet function, and circulating bioactive NO in smokers (69,70). In 20 male smokers, dark chocolate, but not white chocolate, improved FMD after 2 h (7.0 vs. 4.4%, p = 0.026), and the effect lasted about 8 h after ingestion (70).…”

Section: Cocoa and Vascular Function: Interventional Studiesmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Flavanol-rich cocoa beverage also acutely improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation, platelet function, and circulating bioactive NO in smokers (69,70). In 20 male smokers, dark chocolate, but not white chocolate, improved FMD after 2 h (7.0 vs. 4.4%, p = 0.026), and the effect lasted about 8 h after ingestion (70). Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in DBP and mean BP, and a parallel improvement in FMD was shown after high-flavanol cocoa intake in obese and overweight subjects (55).…”

Section: Cocoa and Vascular Function: Interventional Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cocoa, Blood Pressure, and Vascular Function

et al. 2012

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the most common cause of death worldwide. The consumption of natural polyphenol-rich foods, and cocoa in particular, has been related to a reduced risk of CVD, including coronary heart disease and stroke. Intervention studies strongly suggest that cocoa exerts a beneficial impact on cardiovascular health, through the reduction of blood pressure (BP), improvement of vascular function, modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, and reduction of platelet aggregation. These potentially beneficial effects have been shown in healthy subjects as well as in patients with risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes, and smoking) or established CVD (coronary heart disease or heart failure). Several potential mechanisms are supposed to be responsible for the positive effect of cocoa; among them activation of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, increased bioavailability of NO as well as antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is the aim of this review to summarize the findings of cocoa and chocolate on BP and vascular function.

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Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function

Cited by 154 publications

References 4 publications

Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults

Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults

Effects of high flavanol dark chocolate on cardiovascular function and platelet aggregation

Cocoa, Blood Pressure, and Vascular Function

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