Chocoholics, rejoice! Scientists have found that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa products such as dark chocolates may benefit cardiovascular health
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Washington: Chocoholics, rejoice! Scientists have found that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa products such as dark chocolates may benefit cardiovascular health. Scientists conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cocoa consumption.
“Our meta-analysis of RCTs characterises how cocoa flavanols affect cardiometabolic biomarkers, providing guidance in designing large, definitive prevention trials against diabetes and cardiovascular disease in future work,” said Simin Liu, professor at Brown University in the US.
The team’s research summarising data from 19 trials found potential beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on cardiometabolic health. The greatest effects were seen among trial volunteers who ate between 200 and 600 milligrammes of flavanols a day. They saw significant decline in blood glucose and insulin, as well as another indicator of insulin resistance called HOMA-IR. They also saw an increase in HDL, or “good,” cholesterol.