title: Effects of dark chocolate in a population of normal weight obese women: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Normal weight obese (NWO) syndrome is defined as an excessive body fat associated with a normal body mass index and characterized by a higher risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent studies have demonstrated that dark chocolate (DC) has beneficial effects in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of DC consumption on lipid profile, inflammatory markers, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure, in NWO women.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 women affected by NWO syndrome, aged 20-40 years, were included in the study. After a DC-free washout period, subjects received DC (100 g/die) containing 70% cocoa for 7-days. Body composition by Dual energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed at baseline. Blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and plasma levels of some cytokines were measured before and after DC consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After DC consumption, we observed a significant increase in the HDL cholesterol level (Delta% = +10.41±13,53; p ≤ 0.05), a significant decrease of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (Delta %= -11.45±7.03; p ≤ 0.05), LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (Delta % = -11.70±8.91; p ≤ 0.05), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) (Delta % = -32.99±3.84; p ≤ 0.05). In addition, a reduction in abdomen circumference was observed. We also found a positive correlation between changes in atherogenic indices, and IL-1Ra, abdomen reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that regular consumption of DC could be useful in maintaining a good atherogenic profile, due to the favourable effects on HDL cholesterol, lipoprotein ratios and inflammation markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Division of Human Nutrition, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. delorenzo@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarlo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colica
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iacopino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domino
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002182:Candy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D016207:Cytokines; D008055:Lipids