Another Plus for Dark Chocolate

In January we reported on the benefits of dark chocolate on the function of arteries and blood platelets of male smokers. Now Chocolateer Hershey and the US Center for Disease Control have cosponsored another study on this aspect of dark chocolate consumption in overweight and obese volunteers; the findings were reported at the American College of Cardiology Meeting.

The study used flow-mediated dilatation to assess the function of the endothelium (the inner cell lining) of the brachial (arm) artery in 45 patients whose BMI ranged from 25 to 35 (overweight to obese). Sugar-free cocoa at a ‘dose’ of 11 grams a day for 6 weeks improved the flow-mediated dilatation 2.4%, whereas the no-chocolate controls decreased their flow by 0.8%. A daily cup of sweetened cocoa improved flow by 1.8% - not such a good result, but better than nothing.

The evidence coming from small studies like this mounting. Now we really need a prospective study where lots of volunteers will consume dark chocolate daily for a few years to see if the number of heart attacks, stroke, and deaths are reduced. Any offers? Of course, there’s always the risk that you get assigned to the placebo – a dummy bar of non-chocolate chocolate.