Premium
Daily consumption of flavanol rich dark chocolate bar with added sterol esters improves cardiovascular markers in a population with elevated cholesterol
Author(s) -
Allen Robin,
Carson LeaAnn,
KwikUribe Catherine,
Evans Ellen M.,
Erdman John W.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a338
Subject(s) - dark chocolate , blood pressure , sterol , meal , cholesterol , placebo , bar (unit) , medicine , population , zoology , diastole , endocrinology , chemistry , food science , biology , pathology , physics , alternative medicine , environmental health , meteorology
Studies with plant sterols (PS) and cocoa flavanols (CF) support their use in the diet as a strategy for maintaining cardiovascular (CV) health. This study evaluated the CV benefits of daily consumption of dark chocolate bars enriched with CF +/− PS in subjects. Fifty subjects (33 female, 17 male) with total cholesterol levels of 200–280 mg/dL and blood pressure 159/99 were recruited and randomized to receive either a flavanol rich dark chocolate bar with PS (1.1 g sterol ester per bar , PS+) or without PS (PS‐). Bars were macronutrient matched (100 kcals, 180 mg CF/22g bar). In a double‐blind, placebo controlled, cross‐over study design, participants consumed a bar twice daily within 30 minutes of a meal for 4 weeks then crossed‐over to the other intervention for another 4 weeks. Lipids were assessed at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Blood pressure was measured every 2 weeks. Regular consumption of the PS+ bar for 4 weeks resulted in significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol, 2.0% and 5.1%, respectively. There was a significant reduction in systolic BP at 4, 6, and 8 weeks and in diastolic BP at 4 and 6 weeks irrespective of PS content. This study demonstrated that within a balanced diet, PS enriched, flavanol rich chocolate bars may promote CV health by effectively lowering cholesterol and improving other CV markers. (Supported by Masterfoods, USA 557854)