ScienceDaily (Jan. 3, 2006) — Dark chocolate may stave off artery hardening in smokers, and a few squares every day could potentially cut the risk of serious heart disease, finds a small study in Heart.

Researchers compared the effects of dark (74% cocoa solids) and white chocolate on the smoothness of arterial blood flow in 20 male smokers.

In smokers the activity of both endothelial cells, which line the artery walls, and platelets, which are involved in the formation of blood clots, are continuously disrupted, making the arteries susceptible to the narrowing and hardening characteristic of coronary artery disease.

Before eating 40 g of chocolate (about 2 oz), smokers were first asked to abstain from other foods rich in antioxidants, such as onions, apples, cabbage, and cocoa products for 24 hours.

After two hours, ultrasound scans revealed that dark chocolate significantly improved the smoothness of arterial flow, an effect which lasted for eight hours. Blood sample analysis also showed that dark chocolate almost halved platelet activity. Antioxidant levels rose sharply after two hours.

White chocolate had no effect on endothelial cells, platelets, or antioxidant levels.

Dark chocolate has more antioxidants per gram than other foods laden with the substances, such as red wine, green tea, and berry fruits, say the authors, who suggest that the beneficial effects of dark chocolate lie in its antioxidant content.

"...Only a small daily treat of dark chocolate may substantially increase the amount of antioxidant intake and beneficially affect vascular health," conclude the authors.

###

Citation: Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function Heart 2006; 92: 119-20

Related Stories

Halving Daily Cigarette Quota Has No Health Benefit (Nov. 29, 2006) — Halving the number of cigarettes smoked every day in the belief that it will stave off an early death makes no difference, suggests research in Tobacco Control. Although reducing consumption may have ...  > read more

Chocolate Is The Most Widely Craved Food, But Is It Really Addictive? (Sep. 12, 2007) — Chocolate is the most widely and frequently craved food, but our passion for chocolate, and its effects on mood, is due mainly to its principal constituents, sugar and fat, and their related ...  > read more

Just One To Four Cigarettes Daily Triples Risk Of Dying Of Heart Disease Or Lung Cancer (Sep. 22, 2005) — Smoking just one to four cigarettes a day almost triples a smoker's risk of heart disease and lung cancer, reveals a large study in Tobacco ...  > read more

Consumption Of Small Amounts Of Dark Chocolate Associated With Reduction In Blood Pressure (July 5, 2007) — Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate was associated with a lowering of blood pressure, without weight gain or other adverse effects, according to a study in the July 4 issue of ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily

Saving Legs - Saving Lives