Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• FLAMMER, Andreas J
• HERMANN, Frank
• CORTI, Roberto
• SUDANO, Isabella
• SPIEKER, Lukas
• HERMANN, Matthias
• COOPER, Karen A
• SERAFINI, Mauro
• LÜSCHER, Thomas F
• RUSCHITZKA, Frank
• NOLL, Georg

Titel

Dark Chocolate Improves Coronary Vasomotion and Reduces Platelet Reactivity

Ist Teil von

• Circulation (New York, N.Y.), 2007-11, Vol.116 (21), p.2376-2382

Ort / Verlag

Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Erscheinungsjahr

2007

Quelle

Free E-Journal (出版社公開部分のみ）

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• 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. 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. 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.