Health Benefits of Dark Choclates

Health Benefits of Dark
Chocolates
704-NFS
Basil K. Dalaly
Professor
Department of Health and Nutritional
Sciences
South Dakota State University
1
Health Benefits of Dark Chocolates
 Source: University of California – Davis,

January 20, 2006
 The researchers: University of California,
Davis; the Heinrich-Heine of Duesseldorf,
Germany; and Harvard Medical School.
2
 In a multifaceted study involving the Kuna

Indians of Panama, an international team
of scientists has pinpointed a chemical
compound that is, in part, responsible, for the
heart-healthy benefits of certain cocoas and
some chocolate products.
3
 The study showed that epicatechin, one of a

group of chemicals known as flavanols, was
directly linked to improved circulation and
other hallmarks of cardiovascular health.
 Findings of the study are reported in the Jan.
16 online issue of the Proceedings of the

National Academy of Sciences.
4
 The researchers were able to demonstrate a

direct relationship between the intake of
certain flavanols present in cocoa, their
absorption into the circulation and their
effects on cardiovascular function in humans.
5
 Key to the study were volunteers from the

Kuna Indians, who live on the San Blas islands
off the coast of Panama. High-blood
pressure and other signs of cardiovascular
disease are rare among the island-dwelling
Kuna, who are also known to consume large
amounts of flavanol-rich cocoa, 3-4
cups/day.
6
 Previous studies carried out by Norman

Hollenberg's research team at Harvard
Medical School have found that Kuna who
have migrated to the suburbs of Panama City
on the mainland consume only about four
cups of cocoa per week, do not enjoy the
same level of cardiovascular health.
7
 Through analyses of urine samples from

members of both the island-dwelling and
mainland Kuna, the researchers found that,
compared to their mainland counterparts, the
urine of island dwellers had more than twice
the levels of urinary nitric oxide -- a
chemical compound already known to be
associated with healthy flow of blood through
the arteries.
8
 The Kuna project approach concluded that

the cause of improved circulation :
Higher levels of the flavanol epicatechin in
the bloodstream were accompanied by
improved blood flow.
 Pure epicatechin consumed by humans had
much the same effect as did consumption of

flavanol-rich cocoa
9
 Levels of nitric oxide in the blood were

higher in individuals who drank flavanol-rich
cocoa, compared to those who drank cocoa
beverages with low flavanol levels.
 In the laboratory, flavanols administered to
samples of vascular tissue caused the tissue

to relax.
10
 Cocoa May Cut Blood Pressure

 Study Tracked Eating Habits of Elderly Men
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By
Louise Chang, MD
on Monday, February 27, 2006
11
 Brian Buijsse, MSc, and colleagues report the

news in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
They studied 470 elderly men for 15 years,
tracking the men's cocoa consumption,
including chocolate.
 Participants were 65-84 years old when the
study started in 1985.
12
 Here's a look at cocoa consumption in the

study:
 Average daily intake: 2.11 grams.
 A third of the group didn't consume any cocoa
when the study started.

 Top cocoa consumption was more than 4
grams per day.
13
 Most popular sources: Plain chocolate and

chocolate bars.
 Cocoa eaters were more likely to drink
alcohol, eat nuts and seeds, and consume

low- or medium-fat dairy foods, sugary
confections, cookies, and savory foods.
14
 Key Finding
 The key message of this study suggests that
using low amounts of cocoa foods on a daily
basis, equal to about 10 grams of dark
chocolate, may lower blood pressure and CVD
[cardiovascular] death.
15
 Cocoa is usually processed to remove

bitterness. "Unfortunately, the bitterness is
the flavanoids,“
 Eating Dark Chocolate May Also Fight Heart
Disease and Diabetes.
16
 Sweet! Hot Cocoa May Prevent Heart

Disease
 Cocoa Has More Antioxidants Than Red Wine,
Tea By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda
Nazario, MD
on Thursday, November 06, 2003
17
 Chocolate linked to better heart health

 Study details: The researchers followed 1,169
non-diabetic people hospitalized after their
first heart attack, and participating in the
Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program. After
completing a questionnaire to assess
chocolate consumption over the course of 12
months, the participants were then followed
to eight years.
18
 Consuming chocolate resulted heart mortality

reduction:
 lessthan once per month, 27%
 up to once per week, 44%
 twice or more per week 66%.
19
 Source: Journal of Internal Medicine

Volume 266, Pages 248-257, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-
2796.2009.02088.x
"Chocolate consumption and mortality following a
first acute myocardial infarction: the Stockholm
Heart Epidemiology Program"
Authors: I. Janszky, K.J. Mukamal, R. Ljung, S.
Ahnve, A. Ahlbom, J. Hallqvist
20
Food/Drink Phenols Falvonoids Serving
(mg) (mg)
Cocoa 611 564 One serving
Red Wine 340 163 One glass
Green Tea 165 47 One cup
Black Tea 124 34 One cup
Cocoa had the highest levels of antioxidants, twice as high as

red wine, and nearly three times stronger than green tea
21
 U of Michigan Integrative Medicine

 Decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol oxidation
 Reduces the risk of blood clots
 Increases blood flow in arteries
 May improve mood and pleasure by boosting
serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain,

dark chocolate contains tryptophan.
 Contains a number of minerals, including Ca,
mg (muscle relaxation), and K.

22
 Some other claims

 Cocoa has anti-inflammatory properties that
enhance blood flow.
 Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate --
lowers high blood pressure

 Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or
dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent

antioxidant
23
 Boston-based researchers reported in mid-

2008 that flavanol-rich chocolate may
boost blood flow in the brain and reduce
the risk of dementia and stroke.
 (Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment,
Vol. 4, pp. 433-440).
24
 Chocolate passes clinical trial test for

artery and heart health
 Consumption of the antioxidant-rich chocolate
containing 495 mg of polyphenols led to
reductions in levels of inflammatory
compounds which contribute to development
of atherosclerosis.
25
 Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Published online ahead of print,
doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27716
“Effect of cocoa powder on the modulation of
inflammatory biomarkers in patients at high risk of
cardiovascular disease”
Authors: M. Monagas, N. Khan, C. Andres-
Lacueva, R. Casas, M. Urpi-Sarda, R. Llorach, R.M.
Lamuela-Raventos, R. Estruch.
26
 High-flavanol cocoa repairs blood

vessels in CVD patients – Mars
 The results showed that blood vessel function
improved by 47 % compared to low-flavanol
consumption.
27
 “Our data support the concept that dietary

flavanols, in addition to improving
cardiovascular functions, can facilitate
endogenous repair mechanisms that act
synergistically with current medical therapy,”
said the scientists.
28
 The authors said that the outcomes of their

trial also demonstrated that drinking high-
flavanol cocoa significantly reduces systolic
blood pressure, an important risk factor for
heart disease and stroke.
29
 Source: Journal of the American College of

Cardiology
Published online ahead of print:
doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2010.03.039
Title: Improvement of endothelial function with
dietary flavanols is associated with mobilization of
circulating angiogenic cells in patients with
coronary artery disease
Authors: Heiss C et al
30

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Health Benefits of Dark

 Source: University of California – Davis,

 In a multifaceted study involving the Kuna

 The study showed that epicatechin, one of a

16 online issue of the Proceedings of the

 The researchers were able to demonstrate a

 Key to the study were volunteers from the

 Previous studies carried out by Norman

 Through analyses of urine samples from

 The Kuna project approach concluded that

much the same effect as did consumption of

 Levels of nitric oxide in the blood were

samples of vascular tissue caused the tissue

 Cocoa May Cut Blood Pressure

 Brian Buijsse, MSc, and colleagues report the

study started in 1985.

 Here's a look at cocoa consumption in the

when the study started.

grams per day.

 Most popular sources: Plain chocolate and

alcohol, eat nuts and seeds, and consume

 Cocoa is usually processed to remove

Disease and Diabetes.

 Sweet! Hot Cocoa May Prevent Heart

 Chocolate linked to better heart health

 Consuming chocolate resulted heart mortality

 twice or more per week 66%.

 Source: Journal of Internal Medicine

Cocoa had the highest levels of antioxidants, twice as high as

 U of Michigan Integrative Medicine

 Increases blood flow in arteries

 May improve mood and pleasure by boosting

serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain,

mg (muscle relaxation), and K.

 Some other claims

lowers high blood pressure

dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent

 Boston-based researchers reported in mid-

 Chocolate passes clinical trial test for

 Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

 High-flavanol cocoa repairs blood

 “Our data support the concept that dietary

 The authors said that the outcomes of their

 Source: Journal of the American College of

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