Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and increases plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2004-06, Vol.23 (3), p.197-204
• Main Authors: Engler, M.B, Engler, M.M, Chen, C.Y, Malloy, M.J, Browne, A, Chiu, E.Y, Kwak, H.K, Milbury, P, Paul, S.M, Blumberg, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 8-isoprostanes; Adult; Analysis of Variance; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Biflavonoids; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Body Mass Index; Body Weight - drug effects; Brachial Artery - drug effects; Brachial Artery - physiology; Cacao; Candy; Catechin - administration & dosage; Catechin - blood; chocolate; cholesterol; Confectionery products and chocolate industries, honey; Double-Blind Method; endothelial; endothelium; Endothelium - drug effects; Endothelium - physiology; epicatechin; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; flavanols; flavonoid; flavonoids; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; health promotion; Humans; Lipids - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; oxidized LDL; Proanthocyanidins; Reference Values; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2004.10719361

Background: Dark chocolate derived from the plant (Theobroma cacao) is a rich source of flavonoids. Cardioprotective effects including antioxidant properties, inhibition of platelet activity, and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase have been ascribed to the cocoa flavonoids. Objective: To investigate the effects of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate on endothelial function, measures of oxidative stress, blood lipids, and blood pressure in healthy adult subjects. Design: The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design conducted over a 2 week period in 21 healthy adult subjects. Subjects were randomly assigned to daily intake of high-flavonoid (213 mg procyanidins, 46 mg epicatechin) or low-flavonoid dark chocolate bars (46 g, 1.6 oz). Results: High-flavonoid chocolate consumption improved endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery (mean change = 1.3 ± 0.7%) as compared to low-flavonoid chocolate consumption (mean change = -0.96 ± 0.5%) (p = 0.024). No significant differences were noted in the resistance to LDL oxidation, total antioxidant capacity, 8-isoprostanes, blood pressure, lipid parameters, body weight or body mass index (BMI) between the two groups. Plasma epicatechin concentrations were markedly increased at 2 weeks in the high-flavonoid group (204.4 ± 18.5 nmol/L, p less than or equal to0.001) but not in the low-flavonoid group (17.5 ± 9 nmol/L, p = 0.99). Conclusion: Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and is associated with an increase in plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults. No changes in oxidative stress measures, lipid profiles, blood pressure, body weight or BMI were seen.