Eating Fabulous

Cocoa Flavanols May Improves Vascular Functions in Diabetic Adults

by ruth on June 8th, 2008

According to the results of a new study (funded by Mars), naturally occurring compounds in cocoa called flavanols may help those who have type-2 diabetes. These findings are relate to previously documented effects of cocoa/chocolate on cardiovascular functions.

In this study, the impact of both immediate and regular consumption of a flavanol-rich cocoa drink on vascular function in diabetic adults was investigated. In the first part of this study, medically-treated adults with type 2 diabetes — a population known to have impaired blood vessel function, putting them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease — drank a well-characterized and standardized cocoa beverage made using the Mars Cocoapro process that contained different flavanol levels, ranging from 75 to 963 milligrams, and had their blood vessel function measured for several hours following consumption. The researchers found a positive correlation between the flavanol dose consumed and immediate improvements in FMD (flow mediated dilation, a measure of vessel health, i.e. the ability of a vessel to relax).

In a subsequent controlled 30-day, double-masked clinical trial, adults with established diabetes who were medically controlled, drank either a flavanol-containing cocoa beverage or a low-flavanol control three times a day. The cocoa beverages contained either 25 milligrams of cocoa flavanols (control) or 321 milligrams of cocoa flavanols (treatment) and were matched for calories, nutrients and other cocoa compounds such as theobromine and caffeine.

Beyond the immediate improvements in FMD following flavanol consumption, participants experienced sustained improvements in blood vessel function upon consuming the flavanol-containing cocoa over a period of 30 days (30 percent increase in FMD between day one and 30).

If you’d like to read the manuscript detailing this study, here’s the citation:

Balzer J, Rassaf T, Heiss C, Kleinbongard P, Lauer T, Merx M, Heussen N, Gross HB, Keen CL, Schroeter H, Kelm M. Sustained benefits in vascular function through flavanol-containing cocoa in medicated diabetic patients: A double-masked, randomized, controlled trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008;51:2141-2149.

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POSTED IN: ~Cardiovascular Health, ~Diabetes, ~Healthy Snacks