Cardioprotective Mechanisms of Cocoa

@article{Ziba2019CardioprotectiveMO,
  title={Cardioprotective Mechanisms of Cocoa},
  author={Kinga Zięba and Magdalena Makarewicz-Wujec and Małgorzata Kozłowska-Wojciechowska},
  journal={Journal of the American College of Nutrition},
  year={2019},
  volume={38},
  pages={564 - 575}
}
Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of deaths in highly developed countries. Dietetic interventions that involve recommendations for consumption of products with a confirmed health-improving action are an important aspect of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Cocoa is an alimentary product with significant cardioprotective potential due to its high content of bioactive compounds. The aim of the present study was to review the most recent literature concerning the… 
View on Taylor & Francis
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5 Citations
Background Citations
1

5 Citations

Flavonoids and Related Members of the Aromatic Polyketide Group in Human Health and Disease: Do They Really Work?

Some aromatic polyketides of limited distribution have shown more interesting medicinal properties and additional research should be focused on them, where they are in the new drug pipeline and how researchers are searching for additional likely candidates.

Network pharmacology and in vitro testing of Theobroma cacao extract’s antioxidative activity and its effects on cancer cell survival

This study virtually predicts anti-cancer activity for cocoa affected by hirsutrin inhibiting EGFR, and reveals 34 bioactives in cocoa targeting 50 proteins regulating 21 pathways involved in cancer and oxidative stress in humans.

Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent

This work has made an effort to summarize the isolated flavonoids with useful activities in order to gain a better understanding of their effects on human health.

In vitro digestion effect on mineral bioaccessibility and antioxidant bioactive compounds of plant-based beverages.

Supplementation with a Cocoa–Carob Blend, Alone or in Combination with Metformin, Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Zucker Diabetic Rats

It is demonstrated that CCB strongly prevents the cardiac remodelling and dysfunction observed in diabetic animals, highlighting its potential, alone or in adjuvant therapy, for treating DCM.

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 102 REFERENCES

Cocoa, blood pressure, and cardiovascular health.

New findings concerning cocoa effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular health are summarized, focusing on putative mechanisms of action and "nutraceutical " viewpoints.

Cocoa, Blood Pressure, and Vascular Function

This review summarizes the findings of cocoa and chocolate on BP and vascular function and identifies several potential mechanisms that are supposed to be responsible for the positive effect of cocoa.

Effect of cocoa powder on the modulation of inflammatory biomarkers in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

The results suggest that the intake of cocoa polyphenols may modulate inflammatory mediators in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease and these antiinflammatory effects may contribute to the overall benefits of cocoa consumption against atherosclerosis.

Hypotensive, hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of consuming a cocoa product in moderately hypercholesterolemic humans.

This preliminary study suggests that CP might be considered part of a dietary approach or a functional food or ingredient for the food industry to achieve hypotensive and hypoglycemic effects in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects without inducing changes in body weight and waist circumference, although results should be confirmed in a longer, controlled human study.

The Anti-inflammatory Properties of Cocoa Flavanols

Flavanol-rich cocoa could be a potential candidate for the treatment, or possibly prevention, of the broad array of chronic diseases that are linked to dysfunctional inflammatory responses, and additional research in well-designed human clinical experiments would be a welcome addition to the evidence base.

Regular consumption of a cocoa product improves the cardiometabolic profile in healthy and moderately hypercholesterolaemic adults

Regular consuming a cocoa product with milk improves cardiovascular health by increasing HDL-C levels and inducing hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory effects in healthy and hypercholesterolaemic individuals without causing weight gain.

Flavonoid-rich cocoa consumption affects multiple cardiovascular risk factors in a meta-analysis of short-term studies.

FRC consumption significantly improves blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid profiles, and FMD, and warrant larger long-term investigations into the cardioprotective role of FRC.

Cocoa polyphenols and inflammatory mediators.

Research on the effects of cocoa polyphenols on leukotriene and nitric oxide (NO) metabolism and on myeloperoxidase-induced modification of LDL found that ingested flavonoids may reverse endothelial dysfunction through enhancement of NO bioactivity.

Effect of cocoa on blood pressure.

A small but statistically significant blood pressure-reducing effect of flavanol-rich cocoa products compared with control in trials of two to 18 weeks duration is revealed, albeit statistically not significant.

Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function

Investigating whether the beneficial antioxidant effect of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate can induce an improvement of endothelial and platelet function in healthy volunteers with known endothelial dysfunction and platelets hyperreactivity found it to be possible.
...