title: Flavanol-rich cocoa ameliorates lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction.
abstract: Consumption of flavanols improves chronic endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether it can also improve acute lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial, 18 healthy subjects received a fatty meal with cocoa either rich in flavanols (918 mg) or flavanol-poor. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), triglycerides, and free fatty acids were then determined over 6 h. After the flavanol-poor fat loading, the FMD deteriorated over 4 h. The consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa, in contrast, improved this deterioration in hours 2, 3, and 4 without abolishing it completely. Flavanols did not have any influence on triglycerides or on free fatty acids. Flavanol-rich cocoa can alleviate the lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, probably through an improvement in endothelial NO synthase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Magdeburg University Hospital, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. sabine.westphal@med.ovgu.de
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002099:Cacao; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D015990:Placebo Effect; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005419:Flavonoids; D014280:Triglycerides