title: Potential effects of chocolate on human pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This trial was undertaken to evaluate the effects of high-cocoa-content chocolate supplementation in pregnancy on several haematochemical and clinical parameters. The study had as reference population the pregnant women requesting an obstetric control at Outpatient Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. Candidates who participated in this study were all Caucasian women aged 18-40 years, who had a single gestation pregnancy between 11th + 0 and 13th + 0 week gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a single-center randomized controlled trial. The pregnant women selected were randomized into Group A, which received daily doses of 30 g of chocolate (70% cocoa), and Group B, which was free to increase their diet with other foods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety women were randomized. Significant difference was found between the two groups for diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.05), systolic (p < 0.0001) and levels of liver enzymes, with values lower in Group A than in Group B. Total cholesterol levels and weight gain in Group A did not increase more than in Group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A modest daily intake of high-cocoa-content chocolate contributes to reduce blood pressure, glycemic and liver pattern during pregnancy without affecting the weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. direnzo@unipg.it
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brillo
authors.forename: Maila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porcaro
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capanna
authors.forename: Tomi T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kanninen
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerli
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002099:Cacao; D002182:Candy; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol