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Cocoa is rich in plant polyphenols such as flavanols and might have a beneficial effect on endothelial function and blood pressure: In short-term trials, daily intake of at least 100 g of chocolate was associated with reductions in BP. Now, investigators have conducted a randomized, controlled trial to assess whether daily low doses of flavanol-rich dark chocolate could elicit similar BP reductions. Forty-four otherwise healthy adults (age range, 56–73; 24 women) with prehypertension (BP range, 130/85–139/89 mm Hg) or stage I hypertension (BP range, 140/90–160/100 mm Hg) consumed 6.3 g of dark chocolate (30 mg polyphenols) or 5.6 g of white chocolate (no polyphenols) daily. Before study enrollment, the participants had not regularly eaten c…