Protect Your Arteries With Chocolate

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Dark chocolate seen healthy for arteries

Fri Jun 24, 2005 2:34 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Eating dark chocolate may have a

protective effect on the cardiovascular system in healthy people, the

results of a new study suggest.

" Epidemiological studies suggest that high flavonoid intake confers a

benefit on cardiovascular outcome, " Dr. Charalambos Vlachopoulos, of

Athens Medical School in Greece, and colleagues write in the American

Journal of Hypertension.

They point out that the elasticity or stiffness of arteries " are important

determinants of cardiovascular performance and are predictors of

cardiovascular risk. "

The researchers examined the effects of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate

on blood-vessel function in 17 young, healthy volunteers over a 3-hour

period after they consumed 100 grams of a commercially available dark

chocolate.

The investigators saw that an artery in the arm dilated significantly more in

response to an increase in bloodflow. Chocolate consumption also led to

a significant 7-percent decrease in aortic stiffness.

" The predominant mechanism appears to be dilation of small and

medium-sized peripheral arteries and arterioles, " Vlachopoulos and

colleagues suggest.

The team didn't detect any change in antioxidant levels, so they suggest

other possible explanations. " The dilatory effect of chocolate under

resting conditions can be attributed to improved nitric oxide

bioavailability, prostacyclin increase, direct effect of chocolate in

smooth muscle cells, or activation of central mechanisms, " they write.

SOURCE: American Journal of Hypertension, June 2005.

© Reuters 2005. .

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