Open AccessThe Cardiovascular Effects of Chocolate
Author(s) -
José Pérez García,
Adrian Santana,
Diego Lugo Baruqui,
Nicholas Suraci
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
reviews in cardiovascular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.555
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2153-8174
pISSN - 1530-6550
DOI - 10.31083/j.rcm.2018.04.3187
Subject(s) - medicine , insulin resistance , vasodilation , polyphenol , cardiovascular health , food science , endothelium , health benefits , platelet aggregation , diabetes mellitus , traditional medicine , antioxidant , platelet , endocrinology , biochemistry , biology , disease
The antioxidants as polyphenols, especially flavanols present in cocoa, exert a favorable effect on endothelium vasodilation, modulate inflammatory markers, and decrease platelet aggregation, lipid oxidation and insulin resistance. Recent nutritional intervention trials and molecular studies demonstrate that consumption of cocoa, particularly rich in flavanols, is beneficial to promote cardiovascular health. This review describes the cardiovascular effects of chocolate.