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Central Arterial Hemodynamic Effects of Dark Chocolate Ingestion in Young Healthy People: A Randomized and Controlled Trial

2014; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Volume: 2014; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1155/2014/945951

2090-8016

Telmo Pereira, João Maldonado, Mafalda Laranjeiro, Rita Coutinho, Ester Pinheiro de Cardoso, Ilario Caubi Fraga de Andrade, Jorge Conde,

Hemodynamic Monitoring and Therapy

Introduction. The aim of this study was to assess the vascular benefits of dark chocolate in healthy and young individuals. Methods . A randomized and controlled trial was carried out involving 60 healthy volunteers, randomized into two groups: control group (CG; n = 30 ) and intervention group (IG; n = 30 ). The IG ingested a daily dosage of 10 g of dark chocolate (>75% cocoa) for a month. Blood pressure (BP), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), arterial stiffness index (ASI), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and pulse wave analysis (PWA) were assessed at baseline and one week after the one-month intervention period. Results . Arterial function improved after intervention in the IG, with PWV decreasing from 6.13 ± 0.41 m/s to 5.83 ± 0.53 m/s ( P = 0.02 ), with no significant differences observed in the CG. A significant decrease in ASI ( 0.16 ± 0.01 to 0.13 ± 0.01 ; P < 0.001 ) and AiX ( - 15.88 ± 10.75 to - 22.57 ± 11.16 ; P = 0.07 ) was also depicted for the IG. Endothelial function improved in the IG, with the FMD increasing 9.31% after the 1-month intervention ( P < 0.001 ), with no significant variation in the CG. Conclusion . The daily ingestion of 10 g dark chocolate (>75% cocoa) during a month significantly improves vascular function in young and healthy individuals.