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(Circulation. 2007;116:II_369.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Echocardiography: Evaluation of the Coronary Circulation

Abstract 1747: Acute Effect of Oral Flavonoid-Rich Dark Chocolate Intake on Coronary Circulation by Transthoracic Doppler Echocardiography in Healthy Adults

Yumi Shiina; Kwangho Lee; Miyuki Kawakubo; Yukiko Sekine; Maiko Takahashi; Rei Yajima; Yu Wakatsuki; Taichi Murayama; Koki Nakamura; Masao Daimon; Nobusada Funabashi; Issei Komuro

Chiba Univ, Chiba, Japan

Purpose: To assess the acute effects of the oral intake of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate on coronary circulation, we measured coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) by noninvasive transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) in healthy adult subjects in comparison to no-flavonoid white chocolate intake.

Materials and Methods: The study was a randomized, single-blind design conducted for 2 weeks in 39 healthy adults (mean age 29.7±3.9 years, range 23– 40 years). Subjects were randomly assigned a daily intake of either flavonoid-rich dark chocolate (Cacao polyphenol 550 mg/day, 200 kcal) or no-flavonoid white chocolate (Cacao polyphenol 0 mg/day, 140 kcal) as a control. CFVR was recorded by TTDE, and assessed at baseline and after 2 weeks of intake. At the same time, we also assessed serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), 8-isoprostanes, and malondialdehyde-modified low density lipopro-tein (MDA-LDL) as markers of oxidative stress, in addition to blood pressure, and blood lipids. We evaluated the acute effect of oral flavonoid-rich dark chocolate intake on coronary circulation by multiple regression analysis considering these parameters.

Results: Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate consumption significantly improved CFVR (3.38±0.49 before intake, 4.28±0.85 after intake; p<0.01), whereas no-flavonoid white chocolate consumption did not (3.28±0.49 before intake, 3.16±0.49 after intake; p=0.44). All predictor variables were used as dependent variables in a multiple regression model of the incremental change in CFVR after 2 weeks of chocolate intake. Intake of dark (but not white) chocolate, MDA-LDL, TG and heart rates (HR) significantly influenced the change in CFVR after 2 weeks of intake (p<0.01) according to the multiple regression formula: Y=1.01X1 – 0.005X2 – 0.003X3 – 0.017X4 (Y=change in CFVR after 2 weeks of chocolate intake, X1=intake of dark (but not white) chocolate, X2=MDA-LDL, X3=TG, X4=HR).

Conclusion: Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate intake had acute effects in improving coronary circulation in healthy adults, as compared with no-flavonoid white chocolate, independent of changes in oxidative stress parameters, blood pressure and lipid profile.

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Shiina, Y. Articles by Komuro, I. PubMed Articles by Shiina, Y. Articles by Komuro, I.