A new study by researchers at Heinrich-Heine University in Germany have found that chocolate actually does good to reverse the smoking induced damage of blood vessels and hence help heart function in smokers. It suggests that smokers could improve the health of their hearts by trading a cup of coffee for dark chocolate, though best would be if they kicked the habit.
Owing this finding to flavonols, a type of anto-oxidant compound found in cocoa products, lead researcher Dr. Malte Kelm said, "While the long-term benefits remain to be established, we believe that this is the demonstration that cocoa can significantly improve cardiovascular health in a population with an established risk factor". Impaired endothelium – the inner lining of blood vessels, which is used as key marker for cardiovascular disease was targeted in this study. The researchers evaluated smokers due to the poor ability of their blood vessels to respond to blood flow changes and found that the cocoa flavonols apparently influenced nitric oxide interaction with blood vessel endothelium.
The study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, supported the popular belief that “flavonol-rich foods including cocoa products help to promote cardiovascular health". The researchers who sought to identify the exact ingredients responsible for promoting cardiovascular health observed that the cocoa included in the study had markedly higher amount of flavonols than what is available commercially in the form of cocoa drinks.
Conducted in conjunction with the University of California at San Francisco the study evaluated a dozen around-their-30s smokers with no other known health complaints, after being given specially prepared cocoa drink. Their blood vessel dilation responses and nitric oxide levels measured thereafter indicated that cocoa increased nitric oxide levels and consequently signaled the endothelium to dilate.
Even otherwise "flavonols" are known to enhance immune function, prevent blood coagulation and appear to offer protection from cancer. While the researchers suggested kicking the smoking habit as the best protection from heart disease, flavonol rich foods like green and black tea, red wine, apples, grapes, cherries, raspberries and broad beans offered some dietary protection and possibility to repair the damage caused by smoking. Their evidence on chocolate only adds to the numerous studies that have claimed far reaching benefits of cocoa. Only recently a study at Georgetown University suggested chocolate's inhibitory effect on the division of breast cancer cells, while another at Tufts University pointed to small daily doses in lowering blood pressure by 10 percent, besides that by the Imperial College London promoting chocolate to soothe persistent cough.
While the body of evidence is huge, practitioners are hesitant to promote chocolate that is otherwise fatty as healthy. Industry however has responded quickly by trying to promote flavonol-rich cocoa products as healthy option to normal cocoa products, with even flavonol-rich Mars bars at stores in the offing this week. While the study tested the effects of a high-flavanol (176 to 185 mg) drinks vis-à-vis low-flavonol (less than 11 mg) drinks, it was clear that participants drinking the former showed increased circulation of nitric oxide as against no similar increase as a result of the latter.
But for those who think that they can match the high-flavonol drink with increased chocolate consumption, the warning is that commercial chocolates combine unnecessary sugar and a whole lot more fat that may jeopardize the good work of the flavonols. They may have to wait to treat their weak hearts with a hearty dose of chocolate until industry makes available low fat-low sugar chocolates.
