Diabetics, take care of your heart – drink cocoa!
For diabetic patients, a cup of cocoa may seem like a forbidden treat, but the results of a new study suggest that, due to the high content of flavonoids, the fragrant drink is almost a medicine for these patients. Flavonoids are natural compounds, except cocoa, which are part of tea, red wine and many fruits and vegetables. Many flavonoids act as antispasmodics, relaxing smooth muscles and relieving vascular spasms.
Scientists at the University of Aachen (Germany), working under the guidance of Professor Malte Kelm, first tested the ability of flavonoid-rich cocoa to improve the state of the cardiovascular system in ten patients with stable type 2 diabetes. To do this, they evaluated the vasodilating effect of three cocoa variants with different flavonoid content in three doses (at certain intervals).
In a second, larger study, they tested the effectiveness of prolonged regular consumption of cocoa with low and high levels of flavonoids in 41 patients with stable type 2 diabetes. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, one of which consumed cocoa with a high content of flavonoids (321 mg per serving), and the second – with a low (25 mg). The varieties of cocoa did not differ in taste or color. In addition, neither the patients nor the researchers knew which group each of the patients was in.
The functional state of the patients' blood vessels was assessed before drinking cocoa and two hours later on the 1st, 8th and 30th days of the experiment using the generally accepted FMD test (flow-mediated dilation, blood flow-mediated vasodilation). To do this, the diameter of the brachial artery is measured using an ultrasound sensor, after which a cuff is inflated on the forearm to measure blood pressure. The decreased blood flow to the forearm muscles causes the body to increase blood flow in these muscles. To do this, the endothelium (the inner layer of the arterial wall) releases signaling molecules of NO (nitric oxide), relaxing the smooth muscles of the vascular walls. Repeated measurement of the diameter of the brachial artery makes it possible to assess the ability of the arteries to expand in response to increased tissue demand for oxygen and nutrients
The authors found that in healthy people whose age corresponded to the age of the participants in the experiment, during this test, the diameter of the arteries increases by an average of 5.2%.
At the beginning of the experiment, in patients with type 2 diabetes, the diameter of the brachial artery increased by an average of only 3.3%, whereas two hours after a cup of flavonoid-rich cocoa, this figure was already 4.8% on average.
Consumption of flavonoid–rich cocoa three times a day for eight days increased these figures to 4.1% and 5.7%, respectively, and within 30 days - to 4.3% and 5.8%, respectively. Moreover, all the results had high statistical reliability.
Cocoa with a low content of flavonoids did not have a significant effect either with a single intake, or after 8 and 30 days of regular use.
Measurement of flow-mediated arterial dilation provides important information about the state of the human cardiovascular system. Earlier studies have shown that a violation of this reaction indicates the need for bypass surgery or the use of catheters to restore the lumen of blocked coronary arteries, and also indicates an increased risk of myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular diseases.
The authors suggest that cocoa flavonoids stimulate the expansion of the arteries due to the synthesis of nitric oxide, which relaxes the arterial walls and thus relieves tension from the heart muscle and blood vessels.
However, experts warn that the results of the study do not mean that diabetics should pounce on cocoa and chocolate, especially since the flavonoid-enriched cocoa used in the experiment is not sold in supermarkets. They emphasize that the results obtained are proof that the use of natural flavonoids is an important factor in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, they believe that now that there is evidence of the effect of cocoa flavonoids on the arterial endothelium, it is necessary to study their effect directly on the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of ScienceDaily
30.05.2008