Dark Chocolate Scores Again

Several studies have now shown that cocoa-flavenols-containing foodstuffs (which, to most of you, might be more familiar as "dark chocolate"), can improve vascular health. Cocoa flavenols can make blood vessels more elastic, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood pressure.

Early studies documenting the benefits of dark chocolate used "doses" of 100 grams of the stuff, which amounted to 500 calories. So, while patients had better vascular health they tended to get fat.

Later studies showed that as little as 6 grams (about 30 calories) were also effective in reducing blood pressure.

Now, the Mars candy company (launching into clinical science), in a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, has shown that their fortified brand of dark chocolate - CocoaVia - not only reduces blood pressure, but also lowers total and LDL cholesterol levels. They conducted a very well-designed randomized clinical trial in 49 patients, comparing their product (which has been fortified with cholesterol-reducing plant sterols), with standard, unfortified dark chocolate. The results of the study showed that blood pressure was significantly reduced in both groups, but the CocoaVia group also had significant reductions in cholesterol levels. Patients in this study consumed 2 bars of CocoaVia (about 200 calories) per day. They were reported to have gained no weight over the 4 weeks of the study - but notably, all patients in this study were also placed on the American Heart Association diet along with their candy-munching.

The chief significance of this study is that it has produced yet another piece of evidence to show that consuming dark chocolate can help with blood pressure reduction. We already knew that plant sterols reduce cholesterol levels. Those who want both beneficial effects (blood pressure and cholesterol) can either buy CocoaVia bars, or buy some other form of dark chocolate and plant sterols. (Hint: Check the respective prices of these two options.)