title: Dark chocolate and vascular function in patients with peripheral artery disease: a randomized, controlled cross-over trial.
abstract: Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate has positive effects on vascular function in healthy subjects and in patients at risk of atherosclerosis. The impact of dark chocolate on endothelial and microvascular function in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) has not been investigated so far. In an investigator blinded, randomized, controlled, cross-over trial we assessed the effect of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate and cocoa-free control chocolate on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and on microvascular function (assessed by Laser Doppler fluxmetry) in 21 patients with symptomatic (Fontaine stage II) PAD. Measurements were done in each patient on 2 single days, with an interval of 7 days, at baseline and at 2 hours after ingestion of 50 g dark chocolate or 50 g white chocolate, respectively. FMD remained unchanged after intake of dark chocolate (baseline and 2 hours after ingestion, %: 5.1 [IQR 4.4 to 7.3] and 5.5 [IQR 3.9 to 10.4]; p = 0.57, and after intake of white chocolate (baseline and 2 hours after ingestion, %: 6.4 [IQR 4.5 to 11.4] and 4.4 [IQR 2.6 to 8.7]; p = 0.14. Similarly, microcirculatory parameters were not significantly altered after intake of any chocolate compared with the respective baseline values. In conclusion, a single consumption of 50 g dark chocolate has no effect on endothelial and microvascular function in patients with symptomatic PAD.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Hammer
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Renate
authors: R
authors: Koppensteiner
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Steiner
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Niessner
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Goliasch
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Gschwandtner
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Angiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Schwitzerland.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Hoke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002099:Cacao / Q000378:metabolism*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
keywords: Dark chocolate; flow-mediated dilatation; laser Doppler fluxmetry; peripheral artery disease; vascular function