Can dark chocolates keep heart disease away? Cardiology Basics

Can dark chocolates keep heart disease away? Cardiology Basics A study published in ‘Circulation’ – the flagship journal of American Heart Association, suggested that eating dark chocolate can decrease your risk for myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction is usually due to a coronary obstruction, though there are other varieties as well, according to the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction. High oxidative stress and limited availability of antioxidants can cause endothelial damage in the arteries, leading to increased chances for a thrombosis. Dark chocolates (which contain 70% cocoa) have lots of flavonoids – potent antioxidants which helps to overcome the oxidative stress present in our body. They also decrease the activation of blood platelets responsible for thrombosis. Flavonoid rich dark chocolate has the potential for a beneficial effect on graft atherosclerosis and hence this study in heart transplant recipients. They compared the effect of flavonoid rich dark chocolate with cocoa free control chocolate on coronary vascular and platelet function in 22 heart transplant recipients in a double blind randomized study. Coronary vasomotion was evaluated by quantitative coronary angiography and cold pressor test before and 2 hours after ingestion of 40 g dark chocolate or control. Two hours after ingestion of flavonoid rich dark chocolate, coronary diameter increased from a mean of 2.36 mm to 2.51 mm (about 6%). Platelet adhesion also decreased in dark...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs