The cardiometabolic benefits of flavonoids and dark chocolate intake in patients at risk

Abstract

Scientific research proves that the cardiac and the metabolic functions are improved by the consumption of flavonoids, natural elements found in cocoa. The dark chocolate is the main alimentary compound rich in flavonoids, and for this reason it can be used to prevent some cardiometabolic disorders. This study aims to demonstrate the relationship between chocolate consumption and the cardiometabolic disorders risk in 85 patients hospitalized in Internal Medicine Unit of Emergency Hospital "St. Apostle Andrew" of Constanta. Patients were split according to the quantity of the dark chocolate consumption into 2 groups. The study groups were matched by the demographic parameters, the BMI, the physical activity and other risk factors (fats, saturated lipids, etc). We found that the daily consumption of dark chocolate, with content of cocoa > 35% according to European recommendations, had cardiometabolic benefits. The risk of coronary heart disease was reduced with 23% by the daily dark chocolate intake. The cardiovascular disease mortality and the risk of any cardiovascular disease were decreased with 19%, respectively with 38%. The risk of incident diabetes decreased with 28% after daily dark chocolate consumption, regardless the gender of patients. The number of ischemic cerebral events was

Diet, Sleep and Metabolic Syndrome Among a Legal Amazon Population, Brazil

“…Among obese mice feeding a high-fat diet supplemented with high polyphenolic cocoa it was reported a decrease on body weight gain, insulin resistance, inflammation, and liver steatosis with concomitant increase on fecal lipid excretion [ 30 ]. In this regard, daily intake of chocolate had been associated with decreased risk of overall cardiovascular disease (19%), coronary artery disease (23%), incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (28%), and cerebrovascular disease (32%) in humans [ 31 ]. The present study with a small sample confirmed the data from previous studies with larger populations [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 19 , 29 ].…”