Aging and vascular responses to flavanol-rich cocoa.
OBJECTIVE
Strong evidence has secured aging as a powerful predictor of both cardiovascular risk and endothelial dysfunction, yet specific treatment is not available. We tested the hypothesis that vascular responsiveness to flavanol-rich cocoa increases with advancing age. We have previously shown that flavanol-rich cocoa induced peripheral vasodilation, improving endothelial function via a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism.


METHODS
We studied blood pressure and peripheral arterial responses to several days of cocoa in 15 young (< 50 years) and 19 older (> 50) healthy subjects.


RESULTS
The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) induced significant pressor responses following cocoa administration only among the older subjects: systolic blood pressure (SBP) rose 13 +/- 4 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 6 +/- 2 mmHg (P = 0.008 and 0.047, respectively); SBP was significantly higher in the older subjects (P < 0.05). Flow-mediated vasodilation, measured by tonometry in the finger, was enhanced with flavanol-rich cocoa in both groups, but significantly more so among the old (P = 0.01). Finally, basal pulse wave amplitude (PWA) followed a similar pattern. Four to six days of flavanol-rich cocoa caused a rise in PWA in both groups. At peak vasodilation following acute cocoa intake on the final day, both groups showed a further, significant rise in PWA. The response in the older subjects was more robust; P < 0.05. L-NAME significantly reversed dilation in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Flavanol-rich cocoa enhanced several measures of endothelial function to a greater degree among older than younger healthy subjects. Our data suggest that the NO-dependent vascular effects of flavanol-rich cocoa may be greater among older people, in whom endothelial function is more disturbed.
Fisher
Naomi D L
ND
Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. nfisher@partners.org
Hollenberg
Norman K
NK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D002099:Cacao; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester