Dark Chocolate and Coronary Heart Disease

This article from the American Heart Association is really called:    Dark Chocolate Improves Coronary Vasomotion and Reduces Platelet Reactivity

First come the authors, then the acknowledgements; then the article.

What is of particular here is that Xocai chocolate, independently laboratory tested, has 100 pure chocolate, processed in a patented manner that maintains all of its 300 compounds that are beneficial to us. Including the compounds, mentioned below, ie., the anti-oxidants. While there are 1000s of known anti-oxidants, these ones are of particular interest: epicatechins and procynandins.

Xocai chocolate has the highest and most dense concentration of these naturally occuring anti-oxidants in their 100% pure chocolate.

Andreas J. Flammer, MD; Frank Hermann, MD; Isabella Sudano, MD, PhD; Lukas Spieker, MD; Matthias Hermann, MD; Karen A. Cooper, MSc, PhD; Mauro Serafini, PhD; Thomas F. Lüscher, MD; Frank Ruschitzka, MD; Georg Noll, MD; Roberto Corti, MD + Author Affiliations From Cardiovascular Center (A.J.F., F.H., I.S., L.S., M.H., T.F.L., F.R., G.N., R.C.), Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Nestlé Research Center (K.A.C.), Lausanne, Switzerland; and Antioxidant Research Laboratory (M.S.), Unit of Human Nutrition INRAN, Rome, Italy.

Correspondence to Roberto Corti, MD, Cardiovascular Center, Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistr 100, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail roberto [dot] corti [at] usz [dot] ch Abstract Background—

Dark chocolate has potent antioxidant properties. Coronary atherosclerosis is promoted by impaired endothelial function and increased platelet activation. Traditional risk factors, high oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidant defenses play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, particularly in transplanted hearts. Thus, flavonoid-rich dark chocolate holds the potential to have a beneficial impact on graft atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results — We assessed the effect of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate compared with cocoa-free control chocolate on coronary vascular and platelet function in 22 heart transplant recipients in a double-blind, randomized study. Coronary vasomotion was assessed with quantitative coronary angiography and cold pressor testing before and 2 hours after ingestion of 40 g of dark (70% cocoa) chocolate or control chocolate, respectively.

Two hours after ingestion of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, coronary artery diameter was increased significantly (from 2.36±0.51 to 2.51±0.59 mm, P<0.01), whereas it remained unchanged after control chocolate. Endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion improved significantly after dark chocolate (4.5±11.4% versus −4.3±11.7% in the placebo group, P=0.01). Platelet adhesion decreased from 4.9±1.1% to 3.8±0.8% (P=0.04) in the dark chocolate group but remained unchanged in the control group.

Conclusions— Dark chocolate induces coronary vasodilation, improves coronary vascular function, and decreases platelet adhesion 2 hours after consumption. These immediate beneficial effects were paralleled by a significant reduction of serum oxidative stress and were positively correlated with changes in serum epicatechin concentration.

Key Words: atherosclerosis endothelium nutrition oxidative stress platelets

Received May 18, 2007; accepted August 31, 2007.

What is of particular interest is that Xocai chocolate has a special patent for the cold pressing that maintains the over 300 nutrients in the chocolate seed that provide this impact on the heart.  

For More information go to:  http://choicesunlimited.ca/xocai

For more information, contact: Dr Holly at holly [at] choicesunlimited [dot] ca (holly [at] choicesunlimited [dot] ca)

 Copyright 2011 © Choices Unlimited for Health & Wellness

Disclaimer: This site is provided for general information only, and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or other health care professional. This site is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this website. This site is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of such sites. Always consult your own health care practitioner.