Insights & Discussion
Our findings showing that chocolate and flavonoid intake significantly improves the flow-mediated dilatation, provide mechanistic evidence to support a causal link between chocolate and flavonoid intake and lowered CVD risk.
This meta-analysis identified 23 studies that randomly assigned participants to dark chocolate, cocoa, or flavonoid in comparison with control groups in acute or short-term chronic interventions. At the end of our meta-analysis, we found a protective effect of acute and chronic consumption of dark chocolate and flavonoids on FMD. Greater improvement was seen in higher doses (>20 day) of chronic consumption of dark chocolate with more than about one month. A non-linear effect of acute consumption of dark chocolate and flavonoids on FMD was also found.
Discover Related Insights
Regular chocolate or cocoa consumption, rich in flavan-3-ols, has been associated with improved insulin resistance and blood vessel function, suggesting potential cardiovascular benefits.
2012 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Effects of chocolate, cocoa, and flavan-3-ols on cardiovascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials Hooper L, Kay C, Abdelhamid A, Kroon PA, Cohn JS, Rimm EB, et al.
Systematic Review Cocoa Dark Chocolate Diastolic Blood Pressure
The study systematically reviewed 42 randomized controlled trials involving 1297 participants to investigate the impact of chocolate, cocoa, and flavan-3-ols on major cardiovascular disease risk factors. Utilizing a comprehensive search across multiple databases, the researchers conducted meta-analyses, assessing acute and short-term chronic interventions. Results revealed consistent improvements, including reduced insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), enhanced flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and favorable effects on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The findings indicate promising cardiovascular benefits associated with chocolate or cocoa consumption. Notably, the study highlights improvements in insulin sensitivity, blood vessel function, and blood pressure, emphasizing the potential positive impact of flavan-3-ols found in these products.
Chocolate consumption appears to lower cardiovascular disease risk, in part through reducing blood pressure.
2010 European Heart Journal Chocolate consumption in relation to blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease in German adults Buijsse B, Weikert C, Drogan D, Bergmann M, Boeing H
Cohort Study Cardiovascular Disease Dark Chocolate High Blood Pressure
In this cohort of German adults, consumption of 6 g of chocolate per day was associated with a 39% lower risk of the combined outcome of MI and stroke. This was partly (for 12%) explained by baseline BP, to which chocolate consumption was also inversely related.
The inverse relation of chocolate consumption appeared stronger for stroke than for MI. Finally, the inverse relations of chocolate with BP and incident CVD were observed despite lower intakes of fruit and vegetables in people consuming more chocolate.