Inpharma 1595 - 7 Jul 2007 Chocoholics take heart: dark chocolate beneficial Polyphenol-rich dark chocolate lowers BP and improves bioactive nitric oxide levels in patients with above-optimal BP, * according to researchers from Germany. In their trial, 44 such patients aged 55–75 years were randomised to receive polyphenol-rich dark chocolate 6.3g (containing 30mg of polyphenols; n = 22) or polyphenol-free white chocolate 5.6g, daily for 18 weeks. In the dark chocolate group, significant reductions from baseline were seen in both systolic and diastolic measurements at week 12 (–2.4 and –1.3 mmHg, respectively) and at week 18 (–2.9 and –1.9 mmHg, respectively); no such decrease was observed in the white chocolate group. The 12-hour fasting plasma S- nitrosoglutathione was also significantly improved from baseline with dark chocolate consumption, but not white chocolate, at weeks 12 and 18. The researchers not that "small amounts of commercial cocoa confectionery convey a similar BP- lowering potential compared with comprehensive dietary modifications that have proven efficacy to reduce cardiovascular event rate". * upper-range prehypertension (130/85–139/89 mmHg) or stage 1 hypertension (140/90–160/100 mmHg) Taubert D, et al. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure and bioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 298: 49-60, No. 1, 4 Jul 2007 801035694 1 Inpharma 7 Jul 2007 No. 1595 1173-8324/10/1595-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Chocoholics take heart: dark chocolate beneficial

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Inpharma 1595 - 7 Jul 2007

Chocoholics take heart: darkchocolate beneficial

Polyphenol-rich dark chocolate lowers BP andimproves bioactive nitric oxide levels in patients withabove-optimal BP,* according to researchers fromGermany.

In their trial, 44 such patients aged 55–75 years wererandomised to receive polyphenol-rich dark chocolate6.3g (containing 30mg of polyphenols; n = 22) orpolyphenol-free white chocolate 5.6g, daily for18 weeks.

In the dark chocolate group, significant reductionsfrom baseline were seen in both systolic and diastolicmeasurements at week 12 (–2.4 and –1.3 mmHg,respectively) and at week 18 (–2.9 and –1.9 mmHg,respectively); no such decrease was observed in thewhite chocolate group. The 12-hour fasting plasma S-nitrosoglutathione was also significantly improved frombaseline with dark chocolate consumption, but notwhite chocolate, at weeks 12 and 18.

The researchers not that "small amounts ofcommercial cocoa confectionery convey a similar BP-lowering potential compared with comprehensivedietary modifications that have proven efficacy toreduce cardiovascular event rate".* upper-range prehypertension (130/85–139/89 mmHg) or stage 1hypertension (140/90–160/100 mmHg)

Taubert D, et al. Effects of low habitual cocoa intake on blood pressure andbioactive nitric oxide: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA: the Journal of theAmerican Medical Association 298: 49-60, No. 1, 4 Jul 2007 801035694