Effects of chocolate supplementation on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in ApoE3L mice fed a high-cholesterol atherogenic diet.
METHODS
Dietary intake of cocoa and/or chocolate has been suggested to exhibit protective cardiovascular effects although this is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chocolate supplementation on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters.


RESULTS
Four groups of ApoE*3Leiden mice were exposed to the following diet regimens. Group 1: cholesterol-free control diet (CO). Group 2: high-dose (1.0% w/w) control cholesterol (CC). Group 3: CC supplemented chocolate A (CCA) and Group 4: CC supplemented chocolate B (CCB). Both chocolates differed in polyphenol and fiber content, CCA had a relatively high-polyphenol and low-fiber content compared to CCB. Mice fed a high-cholesterol diet showed increased plasma-cholesterol and developed atherosclerosis. Both chocolate treatments, particularly CCA, further increased plasma-cholesterol and increased atherosclerotic plaque formation. Moreover, compared to mice fed a high-cholesterol diet, both chocolate-treated groups displayed increased liver injury. Mice on high-cholesterol diet had elevated plasma levels of sVCAM-1, sE-selectin and SAA, which was further increased in the CCB group. Similar effects were observed for renal inflammation markers.


CONCLUSIONS
The two chocolate preparations showed unfavorable, but different effects on cardiometabolic health in E3L mice, which dissimilarities may be related to differences in chocolate composition. We conclude that discrepancies reported on the effects of chocolate on cardiometabolic health may at least partly be due to differences in chocolate composition.
Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Gopala K
GK
Yakala
Peter Y
PY
Wielinga
Manuel
M
Suarez
Annelies
A
Bunschoten
Jolanda M
JM
van Golde
Lluis
L
Arola
Jaap
J
Keijer
Robert
R
Kleemann
Teake
T
Kooistra
Peter
P
Heeringa
D000818:Animals; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3 / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002182:Candy; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D019040:E-Selectin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C052720:apolipoprotein E3 (Leidein)
Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammation; Liver injury; Renal inflammation