X-Message-Number: 29357
From: 
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:54:53 -0500
Subject: Yes, More Chocolate!

From:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ACCMeeting/tb/5321

ACC: Dark Chocolate Improves Vascular Function 
			
By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today 
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of 
Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 
March 25, 2007

NEW ORLEANS, March 25 -- A cup of cocoa in the morning may improve 
endothelial function for overweight patients, a small study 
confirmed, particularly if the dark chocolate powder is mixed with 
unsweetened water.

In the CDC- and Hershey-sponsored study, reported at the American 
College of Cardiology meeting here, daily sugar-free cocoa 
consumption improved flow mediated dilation 2.4% over a six-week 
period and an eight-ounce cup of sweetened cocoa improved flow 
1.5%. Placebo decreased flow mediated dilation by 0.8%. 

Dark chocolate, one of the richest sources of flavinoids, has been 
shown to improve endothelial function among healthy volunteers, 
elderly individuals, postmenopausal women, hypertensive patients, 
and others. 

The study affirmed that the benefit extends to otherwise healthy 
adults with a body mass index 25 to 35 kg/m2, said Valentine 
Yanchou Nijike, M.D., of the Yale Prevention Research Center. 

He and colleagues randomized 45 patients to six-week consumption 
regimens consisting of 11 g of powdered cocoa mixed in eight ounces 
of water or placebo once a day in a single-blind crossover design 
with a four-week washout between each. 

Patients were 30 to 75 years old, had a waist circumference greater 
than 88 cm for women or 102 cm for men, had a BMI in the overweight 
category, and did not smoke. 

After 12 hours of fasting, flow mediated dilation of the brachial 
artery was measured at a morning office visit using high frequency 
ultrasound before ingestion and two hours after ingestion. This was 
done at baseline and at the end of each six-week period. 

Compared with baseline values, the changes in flow mediated dilation were: 

2.4 2.6% for cocoa without sugar (P<0.0001 versus baseline and 
versus placebo), 
1.5 2.7% for cocoa with sugar (P=0.0024 versus baseline and 
P=0.0021 versus placebo), and 
-0.8 3.4% for placebo. 

Dr. Nijike said the results showed effect modification by sugar but 
overall indicated cardiovascular risk reduction by cocoa products. 

This is good news for preventive care, commented Robert S. 
Rosenson, M.D., of Northwestern University in Chicago, who 
moderated a press conference during which the study was discussed. 

"The study is relevant for our patients because we so often are 
told what not to do, and here's something that's good, tastes good, 
feels good to eat the chocolate and actually you're getting 
vascular benefits," he said. 

However, not all chocolate products may be advantageous because 
overweight patients have to be concerned about saturated fat and 
calorie intake, Dr. Rosenson noted. 

Because of the small sample size and the specific population 
examined, "a larger study is warranted before we can make a 
recommendation of ingestion of cocoa products to determine 
cardiovascular risk protection," Dr. Nijike concluded. 

The study is also needed to see whether the vascular benefit 
translates to hard clinical outcomes, including heart attacks and 
strokes, Dr. Rosenson added.


=
Search for products and services at: 
http://search.mail.com

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=29357