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Impact of natural cocoa ingestion on microvascular endothelial function in healthy older adults (1156.10)
Author(s) -
Harrison Michelle,
Christmas Kevin,
Preston Amy,
Crozier Stephen,
Brothers R.
Publication year - 2014
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.28.1_supplement.1156.10
Subject(s) - ingestion , medicine , placebo , microcirculation , physiology , pathology , alternative medicine
Impact of natural cocoa ingestion on microvascular endothelial function in healthy older adults Michelle L. Harrison 1 , Kevin M. Christmas 1 , Amy G. Preston 2 , Stephen J. Crozier 2 , R. Matthew Brothers 1 1 Environmental and Autonomic Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin; 2 The Hershey Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania Aging is associated with a progressive decline in endothelial function that is significantly correlated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of natural cocoa (NC) on cutaneous microvascular endothelial function in older individuals. The skin represents an easily accessible vascular bed and evidence is suggesting that changes in the microcirculation may precede overt clinical signs of disease. This study is testing the hypothesis that older individuals will exhibit impaired thermal reactivity in response to a local heating stimulus and that this impairment will be restored following acute NC ingestion (13g NC, The Hershey Company). 11 individuals (68±5 years) were tested on two separate days; they were provided either a NC‐free placebo or a NC‐containing beverage (randomized order, double‐blinded). Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was assessed while the skin was clamped at 34°C and 40°C and values were normalized to a maximal value obtained during 43°C heating for 30 min. This was done pre and 2 hours post NC ingestion. There is a trend for post‐CVC to be increased following flavanol ingestion at both 34°C (Pre: 11±3 % max vs. Post: 14±5 % max; P= 0.08) and 40°C (Pre: 58±10 % max vs. Post: 64±14 % max; P= 0.10). Our preliminary data suggest that microvascular endothelial function may be improved in older individuals following acute NC ingestion.