Flavanol-containing cocoa may prevent CVD in patients with diabetes

Diets rich in flavanols reversed vascular dysfunction in patients with diabetes and may help prevent cardiovascular disease, according to the findings from a new study.

Researchers from sites in Germany assessed vascular function in 10 patients with diabetes after single doses of cocoa containing flavanol concentrations of 75 mg, 371 mg and 963 mg.

Changes in vascular function in 41 patients with diabetes were examined in a subsequent efficacy study after a 30-day, three-times-daily dietary intervention with 321 mg flavanols per dose cocoa or 25 mg flavanols per dose nutrient-matched control.

After a single ingestion of flavanol-containing cocoa, flow-mediated dilation increased at two hours from 3.7% to 5.5% (P<.001), according to the study. A 30-day, three times daily consumption of flavanol-containing cocoa resulted in a 30% increase in flow-mediated dilation (P<.0001).

“While more research is needed, our results demonstrate that dietary flavanols might have an important impact as part of a healthy diet in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients,” Malte Kelm, MD, PhD, professor, chairman of cardiology, pulmonology and vascular medicine at the University Hospital Aachen and the Technical University Aachen, in Germany, said in a press release. – by Christen Haigh

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51:2141-2149.