Insights & Discussion
Chocolate and cocoa product consumption significantly improved lipid profiles, but had no significant effect on other heath aspects such as cognitive function and blood pressure.
A systematic search was performed on academic databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The researchers utilized a precise search strategy and keywords to gather the most relevant studies and evidence. The studies focused on a variety of health effects related to the consumption of chocolate and cocoa products, like their effects on skin, cardiovascular health, anthropometry, cognitive function, blood glucose levels, and overall quality of life.
The research revealed considerable improvements in lipid profiles (particularly in triglycerides) among those who consumed chocolate or cocoa products, compared to controls. However, there were no significant differences observed in other outcome parameters related to skin health, blood pressure, cognitive function, anthropometry, blood glucose levels, and quality of life between the chocolate/cocoa consumption group and the control group. The subjects generally accepted chocolate well, with gastrointestinal disturbances and unpalatability reported as their main concerns.
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Oat consumption can significantly improve lipid profiles, particularly reducing total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, with potential positive effects on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol under certain conditions.
2023 Current Problems in Cardiology Effect of Oat (Avena sativa L.) Consumption on Lipid Profile With Focus on Triglycerides and High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C): An Updated Systematic Review Amerizadeh A, Ghaheh HS, Vaseghi G, Farajzadegan Z, Asgary S
Systematic Review Cholesterol HDL-C Oats
In the methodology of this review study, information was gathered from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The gathered data consisted of a total of 17 studies that explored the direct effects of oat consumption on lipid profiles. The focus of the studies included were the impacts of oat on levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C. The review was meticulous, with a detailed examination of each study, particularly those showing positive effects of oat/beta-glucan consumption on triglycerides.
The review's results revealed that oat intake significantly reduces the levels of total cholesterol, VLDL, and LDL-C. The effect of oat ingestion on triglyceride levels was varied; of the 17 studies, 6 reported a decrease in triglycerides. Interestingly, one study showed an improvement in HDL-C levels following oat consumption. It was also observed that oat intake might effectively reduce triglycerides in healthy individuals and overweight people or those with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, especially when larger amounts of oat were consumed over a longer duration or in conjunction with a calorie-reducing diet. The use of oat together with certain dietary programs was suggested to potentially enhance its positive effects on lipid profiles.
Pomegranate consumption positively affects triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
2023 Journal of Functional Foods The effects of pomegranate consumption on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis Bahari H, Rezaiian F, Goudarzi K, Nooshan Mirmohammadali S, Asbaghi O, sadat Hosseini kolbadi K, et al.
Systematic Review Cholesterol Pomegranate Triglyceride
To investigate the impact of pomegranate on lipid profiles, a comprehensive database search was completed up until June 2023, aiming to identify related trials. Statistically, the researchers employed the estimated 95% confidence and the weighted mean difference to measure the variables, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. They employed a random-effects model for their analysis.
The meta-analysis revealed that pomegranate intake significantly reduces triglyceride levels. Still, it doesn't notably alter the total cholesterol concentrations. Additionally, consuming pomegranate seemed to have a diminishing impact on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and an enhancing effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Cocoa extract supplementation in older adults reduced cardiovascular disease related death rates, but did not significantly lessen total cardiovascular events.
2022 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Effect of cocoa flavanol supplementation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease events: the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial Sesso HD, Manson JAE, Aragaki AK, Rist PM, Johnson LG, Friedenberg G, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Cardiovascular Disease Cocoa
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 21,442 US adults aged 60 or over, all of who were free of major cardiovascular disease and recently diagnosed cancer. The participants were assigned to either a cocoa extract supplement, which included 500 mg flavanols per day, or a placebo. The intervention phase ran from June 2015 to December 2020. The primary outcome was focused on the number of total cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death among others.
The results showed that during a median follow-up of 3.6 years, there were 410 participants taking cocoa extract and 456 under placebo who had confirmed total cardiovascular events. Secondary endpoints showed reduced death due to cardiovascular disease for the cocoa extract supplement users. However, there was no significant impact on the incidence of total cardiovascular events. Conversely, a lower risk of total cardiovascular events was supported when analyses were censored at nonadherence. Overall, no safety concerns were raised during the trial.
Regular peanut consumption appears to positively influence lipid metabolism, reducing levels of triglycerides in the blood.
2022 Frontiers in Nutrition Effect of Peanut Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Clinical Trial and Meta-Analysis Parilli-Moser I, Hurtado-Barroso S, Guasch-Ferré M, Lamuela-Raventós RM
Meta-Analysis Peanut Triglyceride
In the ARISTOTLE study, a randomized control trial was conducted with 63 participants who consumed either 25g/day of skin roasted peanuts, two tablespoons of peanut butter per day, or two tablespoons per day of a control butter based on peanut oil alongside their usual diet for a period of 6 months. This was done to understand the impact of regular peanut consumption on anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical measurements. Additionally, a meta-analysis was carried out incorporating data from several clinical trials, including the aforementioned ARISTOTLE study, to further consider the effects of consuming peanuts and peanut butter in both healthy individuals and those at a high cardiometabolic risk.
The findings from the ARISTOTLE study indicated that lower total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios were observed in the group consuming skin roasted peanuts compared to the control butter group. Furthermore, the meta-analysis of clinical trials highlighted an association between peanut consumption and a decrease in triglycerides. It was seen that healthy consumers had lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios compared to control groups. However, it was also discovered that individuals at a high cardiometabolic risk experienced an increase in body weight following the peanut interventions, despite no change in body fat or body mass index. From the dose-response analyses, it was inferred that body weight slightly escalated with higher dosages of peanuts.
Consuming chocolate with higher cocoa content can improve the nutritional status and functionality of older cancer patients in palliative care.
2022 BMC Palliative Care Effect of chocolate on older patients with cancer in palliative care: a randomised controlled study Vettori JC, da-Silva LG, Pfrimer K, Jordão AA, Louzada-Junior P, Moriguti JC, et al.
Clinical Study Cancer Cancer Treatment Support Chocolate
In the conducted study, 46 older cancer patients under palliative care were divided into three groups. The control group did not have a change in their diet (CG, 15 patients). The other two groups were given intervention foods—55% cocoa chocolate (IG1, 16 patients) and white chocolate (IG2, 15 patients)—for a duration of four weeks. The primary outcome was assessed based on changes in the patients' nutritional status, as measured by the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool. Other factors examined included food consumption, body measurements, body composition, laboratory parameters, and quality of life, using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer instrument.
Discussion of the results revealed that the group consuming 55% cocoa chocolate showed an improvement in nutritional scores and functionality, as evidenced by the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the quality of life scores respectively. On the other hand, the group consuming white chocolate displayed decreased oxidative stress levels. However, body composition and anthropometric measurements remained largely unchanged across all three groups.
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