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Cocoa Responsible For Improving Blood Flow

ironjustice@aol.com

2006-02-25, 7:35 pm

Compound In Cocoa Responsible For Improving Blood Flow
Category: Nutrition/Agriculture News
Article Date: 19 Jan 2006 - 0am (UK)

While a growing number of studies has shown a link between
flavanol-rich cocoa and cardiovascular health, scientists have now
substantiated a causal relationship between specific compounds present
in cocoa and cardiovascular health. Published today in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
(PNAS) , this new study identifies the flavanol, (-)epicatechin, as one
of the bioactive nutrients in cocoa that can improve the ability of
blood vessels to relax.

An international team of scientists from the university of Dusseldorf,
Germany; the university of California, Davis; Mars, Incorporated; and
Harvard Medical School conducted a series of studies examining the role
of specific cocoa flavanols in cardiovascular health.

"Applying accepted causality criteria and gold standard methodologies,
we have been able to advance our understanding of the relationship
between the intake of certain flavanols present in cocoa, their
absorption into the circulation, and their effects on cardiovascular
function," said lead author Hagen Schroeter, PhD, faculty member at the
University of California, Davis. "This study established direct
evidence for the effect of the flavanol(-)epicatechin as a mediator of
blood vessel relaxation."

In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over investigation, the
researchers provided healthy male participants with a specially
prepared cocoa drink that was either high or low in certain cocoa
flavanols. Only the group consuming the flavanol-rich cocoa experienced
increased blood vessel relaxation. The researchers demonstrated that
the relaxation response mediated by cocoa flavanols is dependent on
nitric oxide, a key signal released by the inner lining of blood
vessels (the endothelium) essential for normal blood vessel function
and healthy blood flow.

To provide direct evidence for the specific flavanol in cocoa that is
partly responsible for the circulatory benefits, the research team
conducted a "proof-of-concept" study. During this part of the
investigation, participants drank either a placebo or a beverage
containing isolated, cocoa-derived (-)epicatechin. The researchers
demonstrated that the group of participants receiving the
(-)epicatechin had vessel relaxation and nitric oxide responses similar
to those experienced following the consumption of the flavanol-rich
cocoa drink. Based on these findings, the investigators concluded that
(-)epicatechin is one of the active nutrients in certain cocoas
exerting the observed vascular benefits.

"Pinpointing specific nutrients responsible for the observed
cardiovascular effects, as we are seeing here with (-)epicatechin,
opens up new possibilities for the development of dietary or
therapeutic interventions for cardiovascular disease," said co-author
Norman Hollenberg, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical
School.

(-)Epicatechin, a nutrient that may be found in certain fruit and
vegetables, green teas, red wine and purple grape juice, is especially
abundant in certain cocoas. "This new insight into the bioactivity of
flavanol nutrients is an important piece of information that will help
us understand why diets rich in fruits and vegetables promote
cardiovascular health," said co-author Carl L. Keen, PhD, professor of
nutrition and internal medicine at the university of California, Davis.

To assess the potential long-term benefits of a flavanol-rich diet, the
researchers studied two populations of Kuna Indians of Panama. Previous
work by Dr. Norman Hollenberg has shown that hypertension is rare among
the indigenous Kuna Indians living on the islands as compared to those
living on the mainland. The island-dwelling Kuna Indians traditionally
consume large quantities of flavanol-rich cocoa (an average of 3-4 cups
daily), while those who live in the suburbs of Panama City consume very
little cocoa, supporting the idea that cocoa flavanols may be
responsible for the lower blood pressure in the island dwellers.
Linking Dr. Hollenberg's observations to their own findings, Schroeter
and colleagues found that the Kuna Indians on the island who regularly
consume flavanol-rich cocoa had higher levels of flavanols, as well as
higher levels of nitric oxide metabolites in their circulation compared
to the mainland Indians who consume little cocoa. "These findings
suggest that frequent intake of cocoa flavanols can have biological
effects with important implications for long-term cardiovascular
health," said Dr. Hollenberg.

In addition to collaborating on this research, Mars, Incorporated
financially supported it and provided the flavanol-rich cocoa (Cocoapro
cocoa powder) that was used throughout these ivestigations. "After more
than 15 years of commitment to cocoa science research, we are excited
to see such great progress in uncovering the link between cocoa
flavanols and heart health," said Harold Schmitz, PhD, chief science
officer of Mars, Incorporated and co-author of the study. "Traditional
cocoa processing often destroys the flavanols, but Mars technology
helps to retain these naturally occurring nutrients from cocoa. This
new research emphasizes the importance of understanding the potential
public health applications of emerging cocoa science, which is a
challenge we take very seriously at Mars."

Cocoapro cocoa powder is used in Dove Dark Chocolate, as well as in the
new heart-healthy snack CocoaViaTM.

For more information on the science of flavanols, visit
http://www.chocolateinfo.com or http://www.cocoapro.com. The flavanol
identified in this study, (-)epicatechin, is technically referred to as
(minus) epicatechin, which is one of the stereoisomers of epicatechin.

Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's top producers of chocolate,
and with a strong commitment to health research, is the leader in the
science of cocoa, chocolate and health. Mars uses patented and
proprietary methods of processing cocoa beans to retain as much of
their naturally occurring flavanols as possible, marking these products
with the Cocoapro seal, a hand holding a cocoa bean to signify the
careful handling. For more information please visit
http://www.chocolateinfo.com or http://www.cocoapro.com.

Mars Nutrition for Health & Well-Being, a new division of Mars North
America, will develop and launch new foods, snacks, beverages and
lifestyle support to better serve the nutritional and well-being needs
of the consumer. The mission of the division is to be a trusted partner
in healthy lifestyles, enabling consumers to look, perform and feel
their best every day. Mars Nutrition for Health & Well-Being, launched
in June 2004, is based in Hackettstown, NJ.

Schroeter H, Heiss C, Balzer J, Kleinbongard P, Keen CL, Hollenberg NK,
Sies H, Kwik-Uribe C., Schmitz HH, Kelm M. (-)Epicatechin mediates
beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on vascular function in
humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United
States of America. 2006; 108:1024-1029. Online publication:
www.pnas.org/papbyrecent.shtml

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Knack

2006-02-25, 7:36 pm

I did some further research about this study and learned that the
particular flavanol named (-)epicatechin relaxes only the peripheral
arteries, not the major ones near the heart. Cayenne (hot red pepper), red
wine, grapeseed extract, hawthorn berry, sage leaf, and Gingko biloba also
supposedly produce the same effect. Green tea contains (-)epicatechin too.
So perhaps it would also be expected to produce that same benefit to some
degree.