title: High-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate improves blood pressure in patients with diabetes and hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to examine the effects of high-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate on lipid profiles, weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, and inflammation in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty individuals [32 in dark chocolate group (DCG) and 28 in white chocolate group (WCG)] with Type 2 diabetes on stable medication were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study. Subjects were randomized to consume 25 g DCG or WCG for 8 weeks. Changes in weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, lipid profile, and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at the beginning and end of the intervention. This clinical trial was registered at the Iranian registry of clinical trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In DCC group, compared with baseline, serum levels of Apo A-1 (P = 0.045) was increased and fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P = 0.027), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (P = 0.025), Apo B (P = 0.012) and Log of hsCRP (P = 0.043) levels were decreased at the end of study. No changes were seen within the WCG in studied parameters. High polyphenol chocolate consumption compared to white chocolate resulted in significant decrease in of systolic (-5.93 ± 6.25 vs. -1.07 ± 7.97 mmHg, P = 0.004) and diastolic blood pressure (-6.4 ± 6.25 vs. 0.17 ± 7.9 mmHg, P = 0.002), FBS (-7.84 ± 19.15 vs. 4.00 ± 20.58 mg/dl, P = 0.019) over the course of 8 weeks of daily chocolate consumption neither weight nor body mass index and TG levels altered from baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High polyphenol chocolate is effective in improving TG levels in hypertensive patients with diabetes and decreasing blood pressure and FBS without affecting weight, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance or glycemic control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: PhD Candidate, Department of Nutrition, School of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haghighat
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahryar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eghtesadi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shidfar
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Soraiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahimpour-Koujan
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Department of Research, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eghtesadi
keywords: Apolipoprotein; Cardiovascular Risk; Chocolate; High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; Lipid Profile; Polyphenols; Type 2 Diabetes