X-Message-Number: 32698
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:51:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: 
Subject: paternalism--unchosen cryostasis

In Message #32694 From: 
> But in his last illness he became depressed, and his children said he told
> them he had changed his mind and didn't want to be frozen.
>
If anybody has a similar problem in future, you might want to consider
leaving behind a box or two of top quality chocolates after a
visit. Chocolate appears to exert an anti-depressant effect. At the very
least, chocolate couldn't hurt.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 Apr 26;170(8):699-703.
Mood food: chocolate and depressive symptoms in a cross-sectional analysis.
Rose N, Koperski S, Golomb BA. Department of Medicine, University of
California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, MC 0995, La Jolla, CA 92093-0995, USA.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Much lore but few studies describe a relation of chocolate to mood. 
We examined the cross-sectional relationship of chocolate consumption with 
depressed mood in adult men and women. METHODS: A sample of 1018 adults (694 men
and 324 women) from San Diego, California, without diabetes or known coronary 
artery disease was studied in a cross-sectional analysis. The 931 subjects who 
were not using antidepressant medications and provided chocolate consumption 
information were the focus of the analysis. Mood was assessed using the Center 
for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Cut points signaling a 
positive depression screen result (CES-D score, >or=16) and probable major 
depression (CES-D score, >or=22) were used. Chocolate servings per week were 
provided by 1009 subjects. Chocolate consumption frequency and rate data from 
the Fred Hutchinson Food Frequency Questionnaire were also available for 839 
subjects. Chocolate consumption was compared for those with lower vs higher 
CES-D scores. In addition, a test of trend was performed. RESULTS: Those 
screening positive for possible depression (CES-D score >or=16) had higher 
chocolate consumption (8.4 servings per month) than those not screening positive
(5.4 servings per month) (P = .004); those with still higher CES-D scores 
(>or=22) had still higher chocolate consumption (11.8 servings per month) (P 
value for trend, <.01). These associations extended to both men and women. These
findings did not appear to be explained by a general increase in fat, 
carbohydrate, or energy intake. CONCLUSION: Higher CES-D depression scores were 
associated with greater chocolate consumption. Whether there is a causal 
connection, and if so in which direction, is a matter for future prospective 
study.
PMID: 20421555

Nutr Neurosci. 2008 Dec;11(6):269-76.

Antidepressant-like effects of a cocoa polyphenolic extract in Wistar-Unilever 
rats.

Messaoudi M, Bisson JF, Nejdi A, Rozan P, Javelot H. ETAP-Applied Ethology, 
Centre de Recherche en Pharmacologie, Cancerologie & Pathologies Humaines et 
Nutrition-Sante, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.
Abstract

    Depression is a major public health problem affecting about 12% of the world
    population. Drugs exist but they have many side effects. In the last few 
    years, natural substances (e.g. flavonoids) have been tested to cure such 
    disorders. Cocoa polyphenolic extract is a complex compound prepared from 
    non-roasted cocoa beans containing high levels of flavonoids. The 
    antidepressant-like effect of cocoa polyphenolic extract was evaluated using
    the forced swimming test in rats. Cocoa polyphenolic extract significantly 
    reduced the duration of immobility at both doses of 24 mg/kg/14 days and 48 
    mg/kg/14 days, although no change of motor dysfunction was observed with the
    two doses tested in the open field. The results of the forced swimming test
    after a subchronic treatment and after an additional locomotor activity 
    test confirm the assumption that the antidepressant-like effect of cocoa 
    polyphenolic extract in the forced swimming test model is specific. Further,
    it can be speculated that this effect might be related to its content of 
    active polyphenols.
PMID: 19000380

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